Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Livestock disease found in Montana elk
By Associated Press
CREATED Feb. 24, 2012
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) -- Blood tests on elk captured southeast of Dillon found five animals exposed to brucellosis in an area where the livestock disease previously was unknown.
The test results were released Thursday as part of a long-term study of brucellosis and elk by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists.
Eradicated elsewhere in the country, brucellosis persists in wildlife in the region around Yellowstone National Park. The disease can spread to cattle and cause infected pregnant animals to miscarry.
More..
http://www.kivitv.com/news/local/140326313.html
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Fri Feb 24 11:46:00 MST 2012
Fish & Wildlife
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks captured and tested 130 cow elk in January as part of a multi-year study to evaluate the presence of brucellosis among elk in southwestern Montana and improve understanding of how elk herds interact.
Of those 130 elk, 30 were captured south of Bannack, and 93 were captured southeast of Dillon in Hunting District 325. The other seven were recaptures of elk collared last year.
According to Wildlife Laboratory Supervisor Neil Anderson, all of those animals captured south of Bannack tested negative for exposure to brucellosis. Five animals in the southeastern portion of Hunting District 325 tested positive for exposure. Four of those elk were also pregnant.
?This effort adds to our understanding of brucellosis in elk in the Greater Yellowstone Area, as well as elk movement patterns,? Anderson said.
?It?s our hope that the effort will improve the overall management of these elk populations.?
As part of this operation, 30 GPS collars were placed on elk in Hunting District 325. Plus, seven elk which were part of last year?s capture operations near the Blacktail Wildlife Management Area?and tested positive for exposure at that time?were recaptured and refitted with GPS collars. Five of those animals were also pregnant, and all still tested positive for exposure to brucellosis.
In the course of this multi-year study, all elk that are shown to be positive for exposure to brucellosis are fitted with GPS collars, and if pregnant they are implanted with radio devices which are expelled upon birth or abortion events. This information allows FWP to evaluate the risk of brucellosis transmission. Additional GPS collars are also placed on animals that test negative for exposure to the disease to improve understanding of movements and interaction with adjoining herds. Any elk that test positive for exposure to brucellosis for five years will be removed from the population.
Anderson noted that a total of five animals died in the process of capture. Samples were collected from these five animals and the meat was donated to a local food bank.
FWP is working with the Montana Department of Livestock in evaluating the relevance of these findings. USDA-APHIS has contributed significant funding. Similar efforts will continue in additional areas in coming years if funding remains available.
http://fwp.mt.gov/news/newsReleases/fishAndWildlife/nr_0342.html
By Associated Press
CREATED Feb. 24, 2012
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) -- Blood tests on elk captured southeast of Dillon found five animals exposed to brucellosis in an area where the livestock disease previously was unknown.
The test results were released Thursday as part of a long-term study of brucellosis and elk by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists.
Eradicated elsewhere in the country, brucellosis persists in wildlife in the region around Yellowstone National Park. The disease can spread to cattle and cause infected pregnant animals to miscarry.
More..
http://www.kivitv.com/news/local/140326313.html
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FWP Completes Second Year Of Brucellosis Study In Southwest Montana
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Fri Feb 24 11:46:00 MST 2012
Fish & Wildlife
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks captured and tested 130 cow elk in January as part of a multi-year study to evaluate the presence of brucellosis among elk in southwestern Montana and improve understanding of how elk herds interact.
Of those 130 elk, 30 were captured south of Bannack, and 93 were captured southeast of Dillon in Hunting District 325. The other seven were recaptures of elk collared last year.
According to Wildlife Laboratory Supervisor Neil Anderson, all of those animals captured south of Bannack tested negative for exposure to brucellosis. Five animals in the southeastern portion of Hunting District 325 tested positive for exposure. Four of those elk were also pregnant.
?This effort adds to our understanding of brucellosis in elk in the Greater Yellowstone Area, as well as elk movement patterns,? Anderson said.
?It?s our hope that the effort will improve the overall management of these elk populations.?
As part of this operation, 30 GPS collars were placed on elk in Hunting District 325. Plus, seven elk which were part of last year?s capture operations near the Blacktail Wildlife Management Area?and tested positive for exposure at that time?were recaptured and refitted with GPS collars. Five of those animals were also pregnant, and all still tested positive for exposure to brucellosis.
In the course of this multi-year study, all elk that are shown to be positive for exposure to brucellosis are fitted with GPS collars, and if pregnant they are implanted with radio devices which are expelled upon birth or abortion events. This information allows FWP to evaluate the risk of brucellosis transmission. Additional GPS collars are also placed on animals that test negative for exposure to the disease to improve understanding of movements and interaction with adjoining herds. Any elk that test positive for exposure to brucellosis for five years will be removed from the population.
Anderson noted that a total of five animals died in the process of capture. Samples were collected from these five animals and the meat was donated to a local food bank.
FWP is working with the Montana Department of Livestock in evaluating the relevance of these findings. USDA-APHIS has contributed significant funding. Similar efforts will continue in additional areas in coming years if funding remains available.
http://fwp.mt.gov/news/newsReleases/fishAndWildlife/nr_0342.html