Elk again tests positive for red deer genes

IDAHO FALLS – A domesticated cow elk from an eastern Idaho hunting preserve will either be destroyed, neutered or shipped out of state after a second test came back indicating possible red deer hybrid genes, an official said.

“They came back confirmed for suspect of red deer influence,” John Chatburn of the Idaho Department of Agriculture said Thursday. “That to us has identified her as having red deer genetic influence.”

In 1997, a Colorado laboratory certified the animal as being free of red deer genes. The more recent tests by a Canadian lab found otherwise.

“It came back positive again, but there’s some suspicion again,” Rex Rammell told the Post Register newspaper of Idaho Falls.

In August, as many as 160 elk fled Rammell’s Chief Joseph hunting preserve near Rexburg. That prompted Gov. Jim Risch to order an emergency hunt, saying the elk could spread inferior genes or disease to wild herds near Yellowstone National Park.

Hunters killed 36 of the elk. More elk that had not escaped were quarantined, including the cow elk that has suspect genes.

According to law, Chatburn said, elk with red deer genes must be destroyed, neutered or shipped out of state. He said Rammell would be notified in writing about the test results for the elk, which Chatburn said was about 15 years old.

Chatburn said the choice of what to do with the elk will be up to Rammell, and that the department is talking with officials at Idaho’s Office of Attorney General to determine how much time Rammell has to make a decision.