Senate endorses loosening requirements for disease testing at elk farms

The Senate has been locked in debate this morning over SB 1085, which would loosen regulations on domestic elk farms that require testing of the elk for chronic wasting disease. Sen. Cheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, said, “There’s been no chronic wasting disease in the last five years in the domestic elk herds.” But Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, said, “We need good samples, we need good testing, we need to make sure our wild herds are preserved.” The farmed elk are regulated in the interest of preventing the spread of disease to Idaho’s wild elk herds. Sen. Les Bock, D-Boise, said not all elk farmers are responsible. “We’ve got people out there who will be irresponsible, we know that,” he said. “This legislation is uniformly opposed by the sportsmen and sportswomen of Idaho.”

The bill deals with “domestic cervidae,” which means farmed elk and related animals. Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, the bill’s Senate sponsor, said, “They’re still regulated, we’re still protecting our herds. … This is a wonderful program.” After debating the bill for much of the morning, the Senate voted 25-9 in favor of the bill, which now goes to the House.