HOOF ROT WORKING GROUP FORMED

[bbarnes]

Hello,

 

Thank you for your interest and willingness to serve on the Public Hoof Disease Working Group.

 

The prevalence and geographic scope of hoof disease in elk in Southwest Washington has increased significantly.  Understanding this issue is a priority and WDFW is committed to the sound management of these important resources.  Understanding which type of hoof disease in elk is present and what the possible cause is will provide a better understanding of how it is occurring.  WDFW biological and veterinary staff have been working with veterinary experts throughout the country, and abroad, to develop sampling and testing plans for identifying the cause of hoof disease in southwest Washington elk to better understand the causes and effects of the hoof disease phenomenon seen in western Washington elk herds.  We are expectant that this effort will provide further information and insight to the issue of hoof disease in Southwest Washington and guide future management efforts.

 

WDFW is establishing the Public Working Group as we believe it is important to work together as we try to better understand and address this issue.  The purpose of this Working Group is to provide the opportunity to share information about the hoof disease phenomenon, discuss research and management questions with regard to hoof disease, and public outreach.

 

I have pasted a Doodle Poll link below with potential dates and times for our first meeting. We would like the first meeting to be in person so that folks have the opportunity to meet each other, but also understand travel and time limitations, so we will have phone capability as well. The first meeting will most likely be held in Vancouver, with subsequent dates, times, and location to be determined as a group.

 

Please indicate your availability at the link below:

 

http://www.doodle.com/ru6kwedgk3b32nrs

 

Once folks have provided their availability, I will follow-up with details about date, time, and place that will work for most members.

 

 

I have included a list below of the people invited to serve on the Working Group for your reference:

Name
 Affiliation
 
James Misner
 Cowlitz County Commissioner
 
 

Daniel Cothren
 Wahkiakum County Commissioner
 
 

Axel Swanson
 Clark County Senior Policy Lead
 
Tom Davis
 Farm Bureau
 
Dr. Wayne Clifford/Dr. Ron Wohrle
 

 

WA Department of Health
 
Dr. Tom Besser
 Washington State University
 
 

Mark Smith
 Local resident/business owner
 
Bob Schlecht
 SW Land Access Coalition
 
Barry Armstrong
 

Sierra Pacific
 
Mike Rochelle
 

Weyerhaeuser
 
Brian Anderson
 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
 
Curt Gavigan
 Senate Natural Resources
 
Jerry Nelson, Kristin Mansfield, Sandra Jonker
 

 

 

 

 

WDFW
 

 

 

 

I look forward to hearing back from you and thank you for your participation.

 

Take care,

Sandra.

 

 

Sandra Jonker, Ph.D.
Wildlife Program Manager, Region 5
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
2108 Grand Boulevard
Vancouver, WA 98661
Tel: (360) 906-6722
Fax: (360) 906-6777
email: sandra.jonker@dfw.wa.gov

 

 

[Crunchy]

Good for you for stepping up.  I hope they can get a handle on it.  One of the elk I killed down in the Toledo unit last year had hoof rot

[jumpin]

 

[pianoman9701]

I've signed up for the group but won't be much good to you until after the 16th of September. Thanks for starting this.

[bearpaw]

These working groups can be very beneficial for getting something done, I highly recommend participation. 

[haulinbass]

I could be wrong but has the thought ever occurred that this hoof rot might have something to with private timber companies and all the sprays they use and exposure tothe wildlife. Dunno just thinking big timber companies that charge for access to hunt public elk on private land might wanna join in and try to resolve this issue. 

[pianoman9701]

I could be wrong but has the thought ever occurred that this hoof rot might have something to with private timber companies and all the sprays they use and exposure tothe wildlife. Dunno just thinking big timber companies that charge for access to hunt public elk on private land might wanna join in and try to resolve this issue. 

They have people working on this with the state/feds. They're listed in the original post.