The following is from the Billings Gazette.
Elk moving farther into Wyoming counties surrounding Yellowstone National Park are frequently mixing with cattle and increasing the risk of passing brucellosis, wildlife officials say.
The expanded movement of elk surrounding Yellowstone has prompted (Wyoming) state livestock officials to consider expanding the surveillance areas where cattle are vaccinated and frequently tested for brucellosis.
“Obviously, wildlife doesn’t look at our designated surveillance boundary and stop,” Wyoming State Veterinarian Jim Logan said. “We’re seeing elk in Park and Lincoln counties, and to some extent in Fremont County, going outside the designated areas.”
To address the issue, Logan said he’ll recommend to the Wyoming Livestock Board that it expands the designated surveillance areas to include all of Park and Lincoln counties.
Any changes to the current boundaries would be subject to a 45-day public comment period. The Livestock Board would also have to change its Chapter 2 brucellosis rules to accommodate the expanded boundaries, Logan said.
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Source: Billings Gazette
Posted by Haylie Shipp
