For the first time elk on the east side of the Cascade crest have been found with hoof disease, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Elk near the city of Trout Lake near Mount Adams have been reported limping, and tests administered to sick animals have come back positive for treponeme-associated hoof disease, (TAHD).
State wildlife managers have maintained that the bacteria cause the disease. They also say the disease should not be able to prosper in the dryer soils of the east side of the state.
“The new infections are in transitional areas,” said Kyle Garrison, the hoof disease coordinator for Washington state. “It’s ponderosa pine country, where wet, west-side meets the east side.”
The department plans to contract with USDA Wildlife Services to euthanize symptomatic elk, and Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine will test tissue samples.
“It’s a chance to see if it can be contained in that way,” said Garrison.
The WFDW thinks the prevalence within the herd is low as yet, with about seven to 10 limping animals. There is the possibility that there could be up to 20 infected animals.
There is some reason for haste, since elk typically move into higher elevations in the spring.
“By the end of May the elk will move up to calve and graze up high. We want to get in there and euthanize them before that,” said Garrison.
Search for lead scientist nearly complete
All of this comes as Washington State University is preparing to announce the winning candidate of its search for a scientist to head up the investigation into the disease.
The Washington legislature approved over $1.5 million dollars for research into the disease, and assigned the task to the university.
Charlie Powell, the senior public information officer for WSU, reported that the search for a scientist to lead the study has borne fruit, and the winning candidate will be announced soon.
“We have selected a candidate from the pool and will be bringing them back for a second interview,” said Powell. “We cannot release the name yet. The other candidates have to be notified first.”
He thinks an announcement will be made in the next two weeks.
The hoof disease first appeared in 2008 in western Washington and has spread quickly. It has now been confirmed in 11 counties and affects roughly 70 to 90 percent of the animals within those herds.
Elk that develop the disease eventually end up with disfigured and mal-formed hooves that cause limping, and eventually cripple the animal.
The WDFW has maintained that multiple bacteria, including the treponeme bacteria, is the cause of the disease. But many hunters, guides, and others believe there is another cause that the department is ignoring.
They believe intensive spraying of herbicides over vast areas of privately owned tree farms is causing a deprivation of soil nutrients, resulting in poor nutrition and poor over-all health for the elk.
Bruce Barnes of Vancouver has been at the forefront of that battle. He insists the disease is caused by these forest practices, and has frequently criticized the department for failing to recognize that. He says he has not seen infected elk away from the tree farms.
“I’ve never seen an elk limping on the national forest lands,” he said.
Hunting guide Brian Lewis of Twisted Horn Outfitters agrees with Barnes. Until just recently he guided hunts for elk near Mount Adams.
“I’ve hunted here all my life, and there were lots of elk here,” said Lewis. “I have seen the increase in herbicide spraying in the last 10 to 15 years. I’ve seen deer and elk feeding in these areas a day after they spray.”
These critics welcome the fact that WSU will be taking over the study of the disease. According to Powell, the new scientist will be open to looking at possible causes beyond the bacteria.
“The candidates have all been made aware of the political climate,” said Powell of the critics of the WDFW response. “They are all absolutely open to select causes from the public. No possible cause of this disease is off the table.”
“Coming in, any good scientist will look at everything,” added Powell.
In fact, some of the work going forward is already taking place. The university has pathologists looking at samples taken in the past and has soil scientists preparing research.
As of yet no viable method of managing the disease has been discovered. Euthanizing the sick animals may slow the spread of the disease, but hunters, wildlife managers, and the general public are all anxious to find some effective way of dealing with the disease itself.
With the infection now having spread to the east side of the Cascade Mountain crest the concern is it could spread to the rest of the state, and into other states.
That prospect does not sit well with wildlife managers.
“No one wants to see animals suffer,” said Powell.
