A citizen science project in early 2015 has determined 48 percent of groups of elk in Southwest Washington contain at least one limping animal, presumably from hoof disease.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife implemented a survey between March and May using more than 200 trained volunteers, who drove 7,300 miles through 10 counties to monitor elk groups. Wildlife biologists also participated in some locations difficult for volunteers to reach.
Brooke George, hoof disease coordinator for the agency, told the Hoof Disease Public Working Group earlier this month that 283 elk groups were surveyed totaling about 2,600 animals.
The methodology and study design does not allow for determinations of hoof disease down to the level of individual elk, George said.
It was learned, however, that 51 percent of the groups in Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Lewis, Skamania and Klickitat counties had at least one limping elk, and 42 percent in Pacific, Grays Harbor, Thurston and Shelton counties.
George said the average elevation of the surveys was 1,127 feet. The teams, on average, spent 48 percent of their time in forests, 29 percent in open habitat, 16 percent in shrubs and 7 percent in other habitat types.
Mark Smith, owner of Eco Park, in the North Fork of the Toutle River drainage, said the state is “chasing the disease instead of getting ahead.’’
Sandra Jonker, regional wildlife program manager for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, disagreed.
“We are getting ahead,’’ Jonker countered. “There are many pieces to addressing the disease and we are making good progress. We are using sound science and methodologies. We now have a diagnosis. We know we can’t get rid of it. We’re trying to learn how to manage it.’’
Smith said the wildlife agency is complacent.
“You’ve come to the conclusion you’re going to just manage it, and are not trying to thwart or eradicate it,’’ he said.
Jonker said it is very difficult to eradicate the disease from a herd or the landscape.
“It is sobering,’’ she said. “We all want to get rid of it, but research shows it is very difficult to get rid of.’’
Survival study — In another effort, the department began a study in February of how hoof disease affects survival.
Among the objectives were to:
Estimate the effects of hoof disease on 2-year-old female elk.
Determine cause-specific mortality rates.
Estimate the effects of hoof disease on pregnancy rates, the survivorship of calves and condition level that hunter-killed female elk are able to achieve in autumn.
Eighty-one elk were captured from the Winston, Loo-wit, Margaret, Cowman and Toutle game units, and 78 were fitted with GPS radio collars.
Fifty-eight were selected that had hoof disease and 20 elk were selected as controls that showed no visible signs of being affected.
Tooth samples were taken to estimate age and measurements taken to assess body condition.
Nine of the elk with hoof disease had died by Dec. 1.
Three died of unknown or natural causes, three by malnutrition and disease, two by starvation and one by a hunter.
Three of the control elk died, two by hunters and one by an accident.
Eighty elk have been captured and assessed for pregnancy.
Eighty-four percent of the 19 control elk were pregnant, and 58 percent of females with hoof disease were pregnant.
