OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee has signed into law the legislation directing Washington State University involvement in monitoring and assessing elk hoof disease in Southwest Washington.
Last Thursday, Inslee signed 2SSB 5474, which directs the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine to establish an elk monitoring system in Southwest Washington and to assess causes and potential solutions for elk hoof disease.
WSU is to work collaboratively with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, state veterinarian and interested tribes. WSU must provide an update to the Legislature at least annually.
The measure passed the state Senate 49-0 and the state House 98-0.
“I’m going to frame it,’’ said Bruce Barnes of Vancouver, founder of Mount St. Helens Rescue. “It’s only taken two decades and 100 trips to Olympia to get this accomplished.’’
He attended the bill signing ceremony.
Barnes said hoof disease has reduced the elk herd by two-thirds. He is scheduled to meet with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in Missoula, Mont., to seek financial assistance for Washington State University.
Observations of elk with deformed, broken, or missing hooves have increased dramatically in Southwest Washington in the past decade.
The Cowlitz River valley is the epicenter of observations of ailing elk, but sightings also have been reported in the Willapa Hills, Mount St. Helens, south Olympic Peninsula and in the Skagit River valley, plus northern Oregon.
Tests conducted by scientists show these abnormalities are strongly associated with treponeme bacteria, known to cause digital dermatitis in cattle, sheep and goats.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife has an Elk Hoof Disease Public Working Group, although it has not met in two years.
Anis Aoude of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife told a legislative committee his agency supports the measure and additional financing to WSU.
The bill is effective on July 23.
