An Idaho hunter was bitten multiple times by a wounded black bear during a fierce brawl with the animal Sunday northeast of Boise that ended with the hunter fatally shooting the bruin with a handgun.Marvin Jennings, 43, of Boise, was airlifted to a hos…

BOSIE — Seven elk are dead after grazing on a common — and deadly — landscaping plant in the Boise foothills near Table Rock.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials said the seven elk were found by a local sportsman. The carcasses were scattered on a hill just below Table Rock Road. 

Fish and Game conservation officer Ben Cadwallader field necropsies were conducted on all seven. A review of the stomach contents confirmed the presence of Japanese Yew needles in each of the elk, leaving little doubt about the cause of death, officials said. A small handful of yew needs is enough to kill an adult elk.

Japanese Yew is a common landscaping shrub, despite the fact that its soft, waxy needles are fatal to a variety of species, including elk, moose, horses, dogs and even humans. While the plant presents little danger to wildlife in an urban environment, the foothills are another matter, where big game animals commonly roam during winter months.

Two sources of the poisonous plant have already been located, but the search continues for more.

Because of the risk to big game animals, the agency is urging all foothills homeowners to inventory their property and remove and landfill any Japanese Yew that might be growing at their residence.

Compounding this problem is a well-intentioned, but misguided foothills resident who is putting out hay, presumably to feed the herd of 200 elk wintering in the area.

“Despite the winter weather, these elk are in great physical shape and they have adequate forage,” Cadwallader said. “The presence of hay only encourages these animals to stay in the immediate area which could lead to additional animals dying from ingesting Japanese Yew needles.”

As with other big game herds across the state, Fish and Game staff are monitoring deer and elk herds wintering in the foothills and will take steps necessary to ensure herd survival.