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Tests of two elk captured in September by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks from the upper Dearborn River basin north of Helena--and later killed to be tested for disease and suspected hybridization with red deer--show neither animal had contracted chronic wasting disease.
"Once again we are relieved to know that these elk had no signs of chronic wasting disease," said FWP spokesman Ron Aasheim. "This is what we had hoped to find." Last month, blood tests confirmed the animals were pure Rocky Mountain elk.
The National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, conducted the tests. The origin and the mode of transmission of CWD are unknown and tests for CWD can only be conducted on dead animals.
Both of the 1.5-year-old elk-a bull and a cow--were once under the care of FWP^s Wild Animal Shelter in 1999 and later released in the upper Dearborn where their oddly tame behavior and the atypical physical appearance of the young bull elk^s antlers came to the attention of local FWP officials.
"We^re hoping the new Montana Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center at Spring Meadow Lake State Park will address the types of problems and issues that we encountered in dealing with the Dearborn elk," Aasheim said.
CWD is fatal to deer and elk. To date the only known CWD infected elk from Montana were detected at an alternative livestock facility near Philipsburg. FWP has conducted statewide sampling of wild elk for CWD since 1998, with more than 1,000 animals taken by hunters showing no CWD infections. Over the course of the 2000 hunting season, FWP is conducting CWD surveillance of wild deer and elk from the Philipsburg area and in selected areas in southwestern Montana.
In addition, FWP has conducted "targeted surveillance" of elk and deer that appeared to display clinical symptoms suggestive of CWD-emaciated, listless, blank facial expressions, excessive salivation, lowered heads and, in some cases, hyperexcitability and nervousness. None had CWD. FWP continues to encourage hunters and others who see animals with any of these symptoms to contact the nearest FWP office.
Uploaded: 11/15/2000
Uploaded: 11/15/2000