Hoof Rot - What would you do?

[Practical Approach]

What do folks think?  This is a serous problem that seems to be spreading.  What do you think should be done? 

[ellensburgpo]

To me the answer is a combination of the middle three.

[6x6in6]

I'm struggling with this one and have for years.
Part of me says let nature take it's course, if it is diet and mineral related.
The other part wants me to rule out pesticide and insecticide application as the factor.  If this is the case and is not a factor, and further research turns up nothing pointing to a man created cause, let nature do her thing.

[Mudman]

Thanks for your note!  We have been tracking hoof rot since I first became aware of it in elk in Washington in 2009.  It is one of the most frustrating situations as there are more than 40 types of hoof rot and the causal agent has not been identified.  The first part of the frustration is that we don't know why it got so much worse at about that time since it was found infrequently prior to that but has been known for some time.  The second part of the frustration is there is apparently little if nothing that can be done about it.  In cattle, antibiotics are only partially successful while test and slaughter is about the only effective.  I have been in regular communication with WA DFW since that time and this past spring, they decided that they wanted to host a workshop for their biologists and invite two or three of the world's foremost experts to come to the workshop to discuss and train and use the opportunity to come up with a game plan to get a better handle.  One of the experts is in Australia and two others are teaching at Colorado State University.  We were pretty excited about the possibilities of this event.  RMEF pledged $10,000 on June 25, 2012 to help with the workshop.  It was originally scheduled for later in 2012.  I followed up with Jerry Nelson during the fall and he advised that they had discovered some folks with a great deal of expertise at Washington State University who would also collaborate with other experts around the world.  The workshop was put on hold until they had a chance to get those folks together to determine a good course of action.
 While I was disappointed the workshop was cancelled, I am pleased that they have some expertise from outside their agency helping them with this challenge.  I have a meeting with Jerry Nelson and Dave Brittell next week in Selah to look at new projects to be funded in WA.  I will once again broach the subject of progress and hope to have something to report when I return.  I will email you with any info I gather.  Thanks for your concern!
 Best regards!
 



Tom Toman | Director of Conservation
 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
    This was sent to me in a response to my questions in Jan. 2013.  Pretty much sums it up.  RMEF is trying desperately to help our arrogant state.  Doesnt look good.  There is yet to be a single study/exam done on a live elk afflicted with hoof rot to any ones knowledge.

[jbeaumont21]

Thanks for sharing. Gives me a little hope that they are actually trying to do something about it.  I wonder why the workshop went from being postponed to cancelled? Who cares if all the brains can't get together at the same time, why couldn't at least a few of them get together for a workshop?  Have they never heard of a webinar or gotomeeting.com?  Please keep us informed of any new info you receive. Thanks!

[fisheral87]

To me the answer is a combination of the middle three.

Combined effort.

[steen]

Master hunters get tags to shoot only elk with signs of hoof rot. Or any hunter for that matter. Any animal with a limp regardless of condition.

[ICEMAN]

WWCRD?

(What would a cattle rancher do?)

[jackmaster]

i think the most effective tools wood be to try to eliminate every animal with even a hint of hoof rot, what would be nice is if we could find out exactly what causes it, or have they? if they could kill them all off and figure what causes it, elk could always be transplanted back in the area later on down the road.... maybe its a genetic thing 

[Booman2]

For what it's worth, the Vancouver Wildlife League sent a letter to WDFW last month asking that hoof rot research become a priority.

[Practical Approach]

Master hunters get tags to shoot only elk with signs of hoof rot. Or any hunter for that matter. Any animal with a limp regardless of condition.

I am not sure if that would work. I belive an elk can have hoof rot for a while and be infected prior to showing any signs of having it. 

[JamesK.]

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

February 15, 2013
Contact: Sandra Jonker, (360) 696-6211

State biologists will collect elk to research cause of hoof disease

OLYMPIA - State wildlife biologists plan to kill and collect samples from elk calves in several locations to help determine the cause of hoof disease in elk in southwest Washington.

Starting this month, up to five young elk will be taken from industrial forestland in Pacific County for a comparative study of elk from the Cowlitz River Basin, where the disease has spread rapidly among elk since 2008.

The hoof disease results in broken, deformed hooves and lameness that can hinder an elk's ability to survive. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has been working with specialists here and abroad to gain a better understanding of what is causing the disease in southwestern Washington elk.

"The scientific literature suggests as many as 40 possible causes of hoof disease in domestic animals, ranging from bacterial infection to nutritional deficiencies," said Dr. Kristin Mansfield, WDFW veterinarian. "We have to understand the cause of this problem in elk before we can have any hope of managing it in our state."

Mansfield said the condition found in Southwest Washington appears to be distinct from hoof diseases found in livestock and other wild animals. To help narrow the search for the cause, calves will be used in the study because they are less likely to have other health problems that may affect the findings, she said.

In early March, WDFW biologists will collect seven to 10 elk from the Cowlitz River Basin for the study, as well as a second control group of up to five elk from western Yakima County, said Sandra Jonker, WDFW wildlife manager for southwest Washington.

All samples will be submitted to Washington State University, Colorado State University, the University of Wyoming, and possibly universities in England and Australia for analysis. Jonker said WDFW has made arrangements to donate any meat from healthy animals that is suitable for consumption.

WDFW encourages hunters and others who see an elk with deformed hooves to report their observations online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/hoof_rot/reporting/ . More information about hoof rot in elk is available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/hoof_rot/

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[Mudman]

WOW!!!  It only took 5 years!  Bout time yes but pathetic it took so long.  Wait and see if they do it or cancel this too.  This is why people get upset with WDFW

[JamesK.]

I agree Mudman. I read this post yesterday and then got this email today. Figured I would share