Montana OKs elk-kill plan aimed at reducing disease

HELENA – State wildlife officials approved a plan Thursday to issue elk-kill permits to landowners in southern Montana to help reduce the spread of disease to cattle.

The plan passed by Fish, Wildlife and Parks commissioners will allow up to 250 elk to be taken by permitted landowners and hunters during hunts in the 2015 season meant to disperse elk herds.

It also includes the use of hazing to keep elk away from cattle, as well as fencing paid for partly by the state, habitat modifications and other efforts to affect the distribution of elk.

The aim of the plan is to keep infected elk from spreading brucellosis. Cows infected with the disease can prematurely abort their young.

Quentin Kujala with the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said the strategy represents a reasonable response to the disease risk.

“We know that there are pieces people don’t like and that there are pieces people are insisting that they need in their toolbox,” Kujala said, referring to landowners and people with sporting interests.

Ranchers outside Yellowstone National Park are required to vaccinate and test cattle for exposure to the disease. They’ve pushed for more to be done about infected wildlife, but hunters and other conservationists worry about too many elk being removed.

Dave Chadwick, executive director of the Montana Wildlife Federation, called the management actions extreme.