MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. --

An elk that's wanted dead by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources remains free in Marshall County while residents try to find a way to save the animal.

The elk is roaming in Pleasant Valley, along U.S. Route 250, and has become almost like an adopted mascot in the area.

When residents learned of the DNR's plan to euthanize the bull elk, a campaign started on Facebook and numerous people called the NEWS9 newsroom.


"He's probably the most famous guy in Marshall County right now. When the bus goes by this house, the faces on the kids are plastered. My kids will show me pictures -- 'Look, somebody else got a picture of the elk on the school buses.' It's like having Elvis in your backyard every evening," said Darren Whipkey, of Pleasant Valley.

While a NEWS9 crew was in the town getting taking video of the elk, drivers stopped their vehicles to get a glimpse of it.

"The way I understand it, he's been raised on a farm, so he's been fed by humans his whole life, so he's not a problem at all," Whipkey said.

Officials with the DNR said the elk escaped from a farm in Pennsylvania several months ago and then took up a residence in the woods behind a Pleasant Valley home.

DNR officials said that West Virginia law says any cervid -- which is an animal in the deer family -- that was formerly captive but has been on the loose for more than two weeks must be killed and tested for disease.

But residents like Whipkey said there must be another option.

"I understand there were females that escaped with him. They were tranquilized and transported back to Allepo, Pa., where they came from. I don't see why that can't be done with this animal right here," he said.

The DNR said it must test the elk for chronic wasting disease, which is similar to mad cow disease. The disease poses no threat to livestock or humans, but it does threaten other cervids.

Officials with the DNR said they are planning to carry out the euthanization in the coming days.