Hoof Rot still a problem in SW units

[flatbkman]

I know that I am a pessimist in a lot of ways, but I figured that the WDFG was just stocking up on Wolf food for the future.

[nontypical176]

I know the Coweeman unit and elk very well, been here my whole life.  Most of the area farthest from people and up in the hills(the biggest part of the unit) is just now starting to see signs of hoof rot or still has none at all.  Its the lower areas that hoof rot has taken over.  The state issueing more cow tags doesn't have anything to do with hoof rot or if it did its a flawed plan, because the areas with the most infected elk are the hardest to hunt do to access.  Most of the cows harvested because of the tag increases will be healthy elk from deeper in the unit.   

I also am not completely against culling the infected elk, but only if we know that it will help.  At this point we can wipe out entire herds only to find out later that the problem hasn't gone away, because someone guessed wrong.  My fear is that they are figuring it out too late.  This thing is spreading fast.  5 years ago at my place I never seen a single infected elk, and now I have a hard time finding one that isn't infected. 

[fair-chase]

Sadly, I think wide spread culling efforts are going to be the only way out of this. 

[meathacker]

I know that I am a pessimist in a lot of ways, but I figured that the WDFG was just stocking up on Wolf food for the future.

At the rate they are spreading they will be there with in the next few years.  Its to bad the wolfs dont have a problem with paw rot

[judojudd]

I emailed the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation today regarding the hoof rot issue. I was encouraged by the response. Say what you will about the WDFW, the RMEF has a great track record of turning around situations like this.
"We have been following this since 2007 and found there are more than 40 types of hoof root.  The WDFW vet has been working with the state Agriculture vet to come up with solutions as well.  RMEF has provided a grant to WDFW to help get a science panel together with 3 hoof rot experts to work with the agency staff to see what can be done about classifying the particular bacteria or virus and what if any solutions can be tried.  With wild elk, general animal husbandry practices (dipping, vaccination, etc.) just cannot be done as it is in livestock where you can get your hands on the critters almost any time you need to.  Hopefully this panel will provide some insight on the disease.  I have seen the same video and is is frustrating!  Thanks for your concern regarding this valuable elk resource.
Best regards!"
Just another reason to join the RMEF! It boggles my mind when I think of how many elk hunters are still not members of the RMEF! These situations are exactly why the RMEF exists. Hopefully, through their efforts, we will find a solution to this problem!

[meathacker]

I emailed the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation today regarding the hoof rot issue. I was encouraged by the response. Say what you will about the WDFW, the RMEF has a great track record of turning around situations like this.
"We have been following this since 2007 and found there are more than 40 types of hoof root.  The WDFW vet has been working with the state Agriculture vet to come up with solutions as well.  RMEF has provided a grant to WDFW to help get a science panel together with 3 hoof rot experts to work with the agency staff to see what can be done about classifying the particular bacteria or virus and what if any solutions can be tried.  With wild elk, general animal husbandry practices (dipping, vaccination, etc.) just cannot be done as it is in livestock where you can get your hands on the critters almost any time you need to.  Hopefully this panel will provide some insight on the disease.  I have seen the same video and is is frustrating!  Thanks for your concern regarding this valuable elk resource.
Best regards!"
Just another reason to join the RMEF! It boggles my mind when I think of how many elk hunters are still not members of the RMEF! These situations are exactly why the RMEF exists. Hopefully, through their efforts, we will find a solution to this problem!

This is the same response I got from them.  I originally sent them the video at the same time i sent it to King5.  I talked to Tom on the Phone also. Nice Guy hopefully things are getting done to figure this out. I have sent the video to everyone i can think of.  Feel like im just spinning wheels but at least its getting the word out and making more people aware of the problem we have here. the more people asking questions the better. 

[videorc]

Hi All
I recently received some response to my emails to the RMEF and had a conversation with Dr. Jerry Nelson in charge of elk & deer research & management for WDF&W regarding the Hoof Rot problem.
At this time they don't know which bacteria  is causing the problem. There are several. When they do figure out what is causing the problem the will have a monumental task of applying a solution to wild animals as opposed to domestic animals that can be run through a dip tank.
Quote from my email from Wayne Marion RMEF.
"Earlier this summer,  Dr. Jerry Nelson -- in charge of elk & deer
research & management for WDF&W -- requested and received a grant for
$10K from RMEF to pull together the world's experts on this disease and
to have a symposium on this subject"
Jerry told me the meeting will be in the next two weeks or so with WSU WDFW, They are also asking for help from experts in New Zealand and Australia.
Jerry also said the IT dept of WDFW is working right now on producing an on line reporting tool to gather data from the hunting community sightings. They may also be collecting samples from hunters this fall but probably not until the modern season.
All the parties I spoke with did appreciate our concerns and reports.

These are the people I contacted.

Wayne R. Marion | Senior Regional Director
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Jerry Nelson / Deer and Elk Section Manager
WDFW

Link to PDF of State Biologists
District wildlife Biologists WDFW
http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/wildlife_district_bios.pdf

[pianoman9701]

This just in:

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

September 5, 2012

Contact: Sandra Jonker, (360) 696-6211

WDFW seeks to share information on elk hoof disease

OLYMPIA-The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is holding a September public meeting and has launched a website to share information about reports of hoof disease among southwest Washington elk.

Lame elk or elk with overgrown or missing hooves in southwest Washington have been observed with increasing frequency in the region. At times, multiple animals in a group have been reported limping and showing signs of hoof disease, such as deformed hooves or club hooves. The condition has been observed in both male and female elk of various ages.

The public information meeting will run from 6-8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 17, in the Cowlitz PUD auditorium, 961 12th Ave., in Longview. It will include a brief presentation about the elk hoof disease, followed by a question-and-answer session.

WDFW is also providing an online reporting tool for citizens to report affected animals ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/hoof_rot/ ). The site offers information on the disease, as well as the reporting tool for those who observe elk with signs of hoof disease.

"The condition we are seeing in elk doesn’t appear to be an exact match with any of the known hoof diseases in domestic or wild animals, but it shares similarities with several diseases known in wildlife or livestock," said Sandra Jonker, WDFW’s wildlife manager for the region. However, according to local veterinarians, the condition does not seem to be affecting domestic livestock in the area, she said.

WDFW is working with specialists in other natural-resource agencies and universities to gain a better understanding of what is causing the hoof disease.

Understanding the cause of elk hoof disease in southwestern Washington is an important step in understanding and managing its impacts, and citizen reports of elk with hoof disease will assist wildlife biologists in estimating the frequency and range of the condition, Jonker said.

"In recent years, outdoor recreation enthusiasts and landowners who shared reports of hair loss in western Washington Columbian black-tailed deer, helped wildlife biologists track the range and scope of that condition," said Jonker. "We’re hoping that citizen observations can further our understanding of this disease as well."

[pianoman9701]

Looks like action by people on this site may have had effect. Wonderful job, guys and gals. 

[grundy53]

About time they started doing something...

[pianoman9701]

About time they started doing something...

This is a positive action on the part of WDFW. Acknowledgement is fitting where it's due.

[meathacker]

I will be there!  It would be good to have a good showing from the hunting community.  Please make it if you can.  The more of us there asking questions and making it know we want this figured out will make a differnce. 

[bobcat]

I will plan on being there.

It sounds like it will be a very worthwhile meeting to attend.

[grundy53]

About time they started doing something...

This is a positive action on the part of WDFW. Acknowledgement is fitting where it's due.

Yes it's a good thing. But they should have started doing this a couple years ago.

[MatthewHunter98]

oohh man. that sucks. last i heard was on the news a couple of months ago