Hoof Rot

[250savage]

  Saw this in the RMEF Elk Country News   

Biologists in Washington continue their efforts to zero in on a cause for a disease affecting elk in the southwest part of the state.

WATCH NOW

[250savage]

Sorry, I don't know how to get the vidio to work.

[Curly]

I tried to find the video, but came up empty.

Check this one out: 

Zombie Elk: Hoof Rot/Herbacide link? Is Weyerhaeuser to blame?

[wolfbait]

Are herbicides to blame for region's hoof rot woes? 
http://tdn.com/news/local/are-herbicides-to-blame-for-region-s-hoof-rot-woes/article_172ae622-0c87-11e4-861b-001a4bcf887a.html

[motg9_6]

Sad with the technology and resources available these days they can't seem to figure it out!

[Bob33]

Sad with the technology and resources available these days they can't seem to figure it out!

If it were as simple as  technology and resources, they would have solved chronic wasting disease and cancer for that matter.

[t6]

Identifying the disease and the source shouldn't be the problem...... now finding a cure?  I can understand that being more of a problem. 

We know many of the causes of cancer and in some cases they have a cure, just not in all cases.

In my opinion it boils down to the questions..... Are they willing to look at all potential factors as causes?   Are they willing to publicly attack the timber companies or chemical companies if they find that the forest practices contributed to the disease?  Does that influence or drive their research?

[idahohuntr]

Identifying the disease and the source shouldn't be the problem...... now finding a cure?  I can understand that being more of a problem. 

We know many of the causes of cancer and in some cases they have a cure, just not in all cases.

In my opinion it boils down to the questions..... Are they willing to look at all potential factors as causes?   Are they willing to publicly attack the timber companies or chemical companies if they find that the forest practices contributed to the disease?  Does that influence or drive their research?

This is the difference between them (Professional WDFW scientists) and the environmental activists on this forum.  WDFW is looking at all of the evidence...not just publicly attacking someone based on suspicion and a gut feeling...or a desire to achieve some larger environmentalist agenda regardless of whether it solves the problem. 

[motg9_6]

I wish I believed wdfw was seriously looking at all options but their actions show otherwise

[t6]

By their own admissions they have NOT looked into herbicides as a potential factor in the disease. 

Instead they brought in Dr. Anne Fairbrother of Exponent, a hired gun for the chemical companies, to claim that the herbicides have no effect on mamals.   WTH??   Really?   

True science conducted at a number of Universities tell a different story.  Lots of evidence available..... ya just gotta look at it.   

[idahohuntr]

By their own admissions they have NOT looked into herbicides as a potential factor in the disease. 

Instead they brought in Dr. Anne Fairbrother of Exponent, a hired gun for the chemical companies, to claim that the herbicides have no effect on mamals.   WTH??   Really?   

True science conducted at a number of Universities tell a different story.  Lots of evidence available..... ya just gotta look at it.   

You are twisting the facts again.  Not a shred of evidence suggests herbicides are worth looking at as the direct cause of the disease...they have narrowed it down to a bacterial infection and every single independent expert concurs.  And don't say something silly like "they haven't tested for it"...guess what...all of the evidence points towards a bacterial infection, so there is no need to "test" for herbicides in animals showing no signs of chemical toxicity.    I swear, if you went to the doctor with a knife sticking in your leg you would argue with him that you're bleeding because of herbicides...you would probably want him to test your blood for atrazine wouldn't you...it couldn't possibly be the knife!   

[t6]

BTW.... I dont consider myself an Activist.  Just concerned guy who hates being lied to. 

I dont think I'm twisting anything... They haven't tested for chemicals so they cannot say they are not a factor.  Their guess of Treponema has shown by their own advisors to be at least a secondary issue with an unknown iniating factor. 

What is iniating it? 

WDFW seems to think that science similar to a study on frogs.... They cut off the frogs legs and told it to jump.  When the frog failed to jump... they concluded that cutting off a frogs legs causes deafness. 

[idahohuntr]

They haven't tested for chemicals so they cannot say they are not a factor. 

Yep...same as your doctor who also probably would not test you for chemicals when you show up in the ER with a knife in your leg wondering why you are bleeding 

WDFW seems to think that science similar to a study on frogs.... They cut off the frogs legs and told it to jump.  When the frog failed to jump... they concluded that cutting off a frogs legs causes deafness.

That is pretty funny...I like that one...I need to file it away with one from I think it was wolfbait...his quote as I recall it was "It has been said if WDFW were to manage a beach you would not be able to find a grain of sand on it"     

[t6]

You failed to answer my question.... what is the iniating factor?  What is the disease? 

The cause is not Treponema....

Whats the harm in looking at studies done in the universites?  Why aren't chemicals being considered? 

Your right, we don't have an answer but then again, we haven't been paid to study it for 20 years.

[scoutdog346]

If its bacterial its not chemical. maybe it has something to do with elk becoming nocternal and hanging out next to the swamps in the high humidity as its like peatry dish. I think east side elk r exposed to dryer situations more the west side 3lk and maybe that has something to do with it I don't know?