Game and Fish discusses Cody elk brucellosis plan
Written by Gib Mathers
A bull elk is pictured in Yellowstone National Park last fall. Last year, brucellosis was discovered in the Meeteetse area, caused by commingling among cattle and migrating elk. Tribune photo by Kevin Kinzley Because brucellosis was discovered in Meeteetse area cattle and bison last year, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is drafting a Brucellosis Management Action Plan for the Cody elk herd unit.The Cody herd is comprised of elk hunt areas 55, 56, 58-61 and 66.Public comments must be mailed by Sept. 30.
Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that can cause ungulates like elk and cattle to abort their calves. Animals can catch brucellosis from coming into contact with aborted calves lying on the ground.The most likely means for humans to be infected is by consuming contaminated milk or milk products, say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
All of Park County is in the brucellosis surveillance zone. Since October 2010, 30 cattle and bison in Park County have been infected with brucellosis from elk, said Wyoming Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Bob Meyer.
Elk brucellosis monitoring began in the Cody area in 1991, said Tim Woolley, Game and Fish wildlife management coordinator in Cody.Between 1991 and 2004, brucellosis seropositives (positive test of blood) ranged from 0 to 4 percent in the Cody elk herd. After 2004, brucellosis seropositives increased to 9 percent for three years and peaked at 17 percent in 2009. In 2010, it was at 11 percent, said the draft BMAP.Brucellosis seropositives are a good indicator that the animal has been exposed to and infected with brucellosis, Meyer said.
The elk population objective is 5,600 elk, but the estimate now puts the Cody herd at 6,000 to 6,600 elk. Recruitment in the Cody herd runs from 11 calves per 100 cows to 33 calves per 100 cows, Woolley said.
Between 2005 and 2007, brucellosis management plans were developed for all seven elk herds that rely on feed grounds in the winter, said the draft
.
A lot of the management plan will entail how to slow the transmission of the disease, Woolley said.
Elk winter feed grounds, primarily located in the Jackson and Pinedale areas, bring elk into close proximity and so they are more likely to transmit the disease, like children spreading germs in a school classroom, Woolley said.
The Cody herd is different because winters are milder and winter range is more accessible for elk. So strategies to prevent transmission must be approached differently, the draft said.The Cody population management strategy proposes working with the public and landowners to manage population objectives, set hunting seasons to maximize objectives, improve hunter access and use hunt coordinators to increase and manage elk harvest on private lands in some areas.
The strategy also proposes preventing elk-cattle commingling, increasing elk brucellosis surveillance, improving elk habitat when feasible, acquiring easements when possible, changing cattle operations and developing an effective cattle vaccine to prevent brucellosis infection, the draft said.
Wyoming lost its brucellosis-free status in 2004 when 31 cattle in Sublette County were discovered to be infected with brucellosis, although the state is currently classified as free of the disease. It is believed elk caused the infection.
All of Park County is in the brucellosis surveillance zone. Since October 2010, 30 cattle and bison in Park County have been infected with brucellosis from elk, said Wyoming Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Bob Meyer.
Elk brucellosis monitoring began in the Cody area in 1991, said Tim Woolley, Game and Fish wildlife management coordinator in Cody.Between 1991 and 2004, brucellosis seropositives (positive test of blood) ranged from 0 to 4 percent in the Cody elk herd. After 2004, brucellosis seropositives increased to 9 percent for three years and peaked at 17 percent in 2009. In 2010, it was at 11 percent, said the draft BMAP.Brucellosis seropositives are a good indicator that the animal has been exposed to and infected with brucellosis, Meyer said.
The elk population objective is 5,600 elk, but the estimate now puts the Cody herd at 6,000 to 6,600 elk. Recruitment in the Cody herd runs from 11 calves per 100 cows to 33 calves per 100 cows, Woolley said.
Between 2005 and 2007, brucellosis management plans were developed for all seven elk herds that rely on feed grounds in the winter, said the draft
.
A lot of the management plan will entail how to slow the transmission of the disease, Woolley said.
Elk winter feed grounds, primarily located in the Jackson and Pinedale areas, bring elk into close proximity and so they are more likely to transmit the disease, like children spreading germs in a school classroom, Woolley said.
The Cody herd is different because winters are milder and winter range is more accessible for elk. So strategies to prevent transmission must be approached differently, the draft said.The Cody population management strategy proposes working with the public and landowners to manage population objectives, set hunting seasons to maximize objectives, improve hunter access and use hunt coordinators to increase and manage elk harvest on private lands in some areas.
The strategy also proposes preventing elk-cattle commingling, increasing elk brucellosis surveillance, improving elk habitat when feasible, acquiring easements when possible, changing cattle operations and developing an effective cattle vaccine to prevent brucellosis infection, the draft said.
Wyoming lost its brucellosis-free status in 2004 when 31 cattle in Sublette County were discovered to be infected with brucellosis, although the state is currently classified as free of the disease. It is believed elk caused the infection.
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