Field reports: Elk hoof disease study continues in southwestern Washington

HUNTING – Nearly half the elk herds in southwestern Washington have some of their animals infected with a disease that leads to misshapen hoofs and other problems, wildlife officials told state legislators Monday.

The condition, Treponeme associated hoof diseases or TAHD for short, is a bacterial infection similar to one seen in cattle, goats and sheep, Sandra Jonker, of the state Fish and Wildlife Department, told members of the Senate Natural Resources and Parks Committee.

“Once in the herd, it’s extremely difficult to eliminate,” Jonker said

An ongoing study of 96 elk shows a wide variety of deformation and results in lower survival rates and lower pregnancy rates in the animals studied, Jonker said. A consortium of universities is studying TAHD, checking whether other bacterial infections may be involved and whether elk can become immune to it over time.

As part of the study, hunters in the Cascades during this elk season are required to report if any deformities are present, but the form has been simplified to a simple yes or no rather than asking them to rate the severity of the damage. The department is collecting hooves from harvested elk.

However, in Units 501-564 and Units 642-699, hunters are required to cut off the lower legs of harvested elk and leave the hooves at the site where the animal was killed.

Montana voters reject

anti-trapping initiative

WILDLIFE – Montana voters soundly rejected an initiative in the November elections that would have prohibited the use of traps and snares on public land. The vote was 63 percent against the measure and 37 percent for approval.

I-177 would have allowed only Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to use certain traps if nonlethal methods are ineffective of controlling certain wildlife.

The initiative would have continued to allow trapping on private land.

$4,000 reward offered

in elk massacre case

POACHING – A sportmen’s group and a conservation group are offering $4,000 in rewards for information that helps convict the perpetrators of a shooting slaughter that killed at least five cow elk and perhaps wounded more near Ellensburg on Nov. 6.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officers discovered the elk with the help of hunters on a hillside between Coleman and Schnebly canyons about 9 miles from Ellensburg.

“The people that do this aren’t hunters. These people, they just have no morals or ethics,” Sgt. Morgan Grant said.

Four dead yearlings were found spaced about 35 to 40 yards apart and a trail of blood leading to a full-grown cow. Blood trails indicated the possibility of other wounded animals.

“It was one of those things that knocked the wind out of you,” said Tricia Singer, the vice president of the Northwest Chapter of Safari Club International and one of the hunters who reported the incident. “As I’m assisting in that whole process (of cleaning the elk), I’m looking around and I’m watching these grown men tear up.”

Because the carcasses were still fresh, the hunters were able to salvage the meat. Singer said the wildlife department allowed them to take two of the yearlings home.

Wildlife agents donated the rest of the meat to local food banks and a church.

Under a spree poacher bill passed in 2011, the individual or people responsible could be charged with a Class C felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Grant said criminals in these cases generally face civil penalties and often must repay the cost of the loss of elk.

The Northwest Chapter of Safari Club International offered $1,000, and Conservation Northwest added $3,000 for information that leads to a conviction.

The wildlife department is offering 10 bonus points for special permit hunts to anyone providing information leading to a conviction. Singer remains optimistic the investigation will be successful.

“There had to have been somebody that saw something,” Singer said. “There were a lot of hunters out and it was an open hillside.”