Hoof rot bill passes state house

[jackelope]

http://m.tdn.com/news/local/hoof-rot-bill-clears-the-state-house-with--/article_9290a63a-9d66-5b50-ad7d-8e2542158a14.html


A bill directing Washington State University to establish an elk monitoring system in Southwest Washington and to assess causes and potential solutions for elk hoof disease is poised to become law.


Amended Senate Bill 5474 passed the state House Monday with a 98-0 vote. The amended bill now heads back to the state Senate for a second approval. The original measure made it through the Senate the first time with a 49-0 vote.


The House bill adds an amendment that calls for the state to develop rules for the capture and transport of live elk from an area affected by hoof rot to another area.





“It’s a real positive. It really means, for first time, we’re taking a scientific, clinical, disease approach in a proactive manner…” to the issue, said Mark Smith, owner of Eco Park along the upper North Fork of the Toutle River, by phone Monday.


Sightings of diseased elk shambling along with deformed, broken, or missing hooves have increased dramatically in Southwest Washington in the past decade.


More than a decade ago, Smith said, the disease was only found in one or two counties. Now, he said, the disease has spread to nearly every county west of the Cascades.


Sightings of elk with hoof rot have been reported by the public in the Willapa Hills, Mount St. Helens, south Olympic Peninsula, the Skagit River valley and northern Oregon.


“We’ve seen (hoof rot) infest 60 to 80 percent of the elk herds in my area,” Smith said of the upper Toutle River.
 

The spread of hoof rot has had a significant affect on hunters, who spend tens of millions of dollars every year in Washington. But it is not the only industry affected.


“It’s having a major negative impact on businesses across the state, especially tourism,” Smith said. “No one want to come her to see sick elk.”

[trophyhunt]

Very good news!

[jackelope]

Very good news!

Cautiously optimistic!

[BeerBugler]

cant have the wolves running out of elk to eat.

[trophyhunt]

Very good news!

Cautiously optimistic!

I talked with Wdfw about hoof rot and the outlook is not good at all, hopefully this bill puts the hoof rot disaster on the top of the pile.

[sumpnz]

Anyone want to lay odds they spend a ton of money and accomplish nothing meaningful?  I'll go with 90%.

What are the major changes in land use, wildlife management, and environmental conditions for those areas in the last 20 years?  I'm aware of nothing besides the timber companies being restricted from burning slash and instead spraying the crap out of their clear cut sections with broad spectrum herbicides.

The bacteria that causes hoof rot has been around FAR longer, but it's only been since that change that the problems got to be significant.

Any study they do that doesn't at least investigate the effects of that spraying on elk's natural immune response to trepnome infections is worthless IMHO.

[bobcat]

A much cheaper solution would be to ban herbicide use on forest lands. Grouse populations might recover as well if that were to ever happen.

[pianoman9701]

Very good news!

Cautiously optimistic!

[pianoman9701]

A much cheaper solution would be to ban herbicide use on forest lands. Grouse populations might recover as well if that were to ever happen.

I've changed my tune on this, but only a little. To ban herbicides, we'd need to get the EPA and WA regulations reversed on slash burning. Although I blame hoof rot on the timber companies and DNR spraying chemicals on forage, they need to have tools to combat the invasive weeds. I believe the timber companies would welcome its return instead of spending far more money on aerial spraying of harmful chemicals. 

[Bob33]

I'd like to say I'm optimistic, but realistically I believe this is something that will impact herd health for the foreseeable future: 20 to 30 years.

I hope I'm wrong.

[bobcat]

I bet when the study is complete the conclusion will be that hoof disease is the result of a lack of wolves.

[pianoman9701]

I'd like to say I'm optimistic, but realistically I believe this is something that will impact herd health for the foreseeable future: 20 to 30 years.

I hope I'm wrong.

That's optimistic. 

[Bob33]

I'd like to say I'm optimistic, but realistically I believe this is something that will impact herd health for the foreseeable future: 20 to 30 years.

I hope I'm wrong.

That's optimistic. 

It's not, and I do hope I'm wrong. I think if there were a simple solution it would have been implemented.

I see it along the same lines as Chronic Wasting Disease; something that is complex and not readily eliminated:

An infectious brain disease that has been killing deer, elk and moose both in the wild and on “captive farms” continues to stalk the land, expanding its domain to 23 states and two Canadian provinces since it was first identified in captive mule deer in a Colorado research facility in 1967.

Known as chronic wasting disease, or CWD, it has baffled scientists for decades.
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2015/06/researchers-make-surprising-discovery-about-spread-of-chronic-wasting-disease/#.WO6lH03ruUk

[Oh Mah]

Here is another area to put NASA funds to good use. 

[pianoman9701]

I'd like to say I'm optimistic, but realistically I believe this is something that will impact herd health for the foreseeable future: 20 to 30 years.

I hope I'm wrong.

That's optimistic. 

It's not, and I do hope I'm wrong. I think if there were a simple solution it would have been implemented.

I see it along the same lines as Chronic Wasting Disease; something that is complex and not readily eliminated:

An infectious brain disease that has been killing deer, elk and moose both in the wild and on “captive farms” continues to stalk the land, expanding its domain to 23 states and two Canadian provinces since it was first identified in captive mule deer in a Colorado research facility in 1967.

Known as chronic wasting disease, or CWD, it has baffled scientists for decades.
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2015/06/researchers-make-surprising-discovery-about-spread-of-chronic-wasting-disease/#.WO6lH03ruUk

I was saying that I think your estimate of 20-30 years is optimistic. I believe we're going to see this disease, in differing densities and affecting different %s of the herds for many, many decades. There's only a fraction the money available that would be needed to wipe it out. And the wildlife spending priority of our DFW and state leaders is apex predator enhancement and rejuvenation. I believe that we'll see more wolves in the Boistfort Valley, coastal range, and Mt. St. Helens area as they figure out where to get easy meals.

[Bob33]

I'd like to say I'm optimistic, but realistically I believe this is something that will impact herd health for the foreseeable future: 20 to 30 years.

I hope I'm wrong.

That's optimistic. 

It's not, and I do hope I'm wrong. I think if there were a simple solution it would have been implemented.

I see it along the same lines as Chronic Wasting Disease; something that is complex and not readily eliminated:

An infectious brain disease that has been killing deer, elk and moose both in the wild and on “captive farms” continues to stalk the land, expanding its domain to 23 states and two Canadian provinces since it was first identified in captive mule deer in a Colorado research facility in 1967.

Known as chronic wasting disease, or CWD, it has baffled scientists for decades.
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2015/06/researchers-make-surprising-discovery-about-spread-of-chronic-wasting-disease/#.WO6lH03ruUk

I was saying that I think your estimate of 20-30 years is optimistic. I believe we're going to see this disease, in differing densities and affecting different %s of the herds for many, many decades. There's only a fraction the money available that would be needed to wipe it out. And the wildlife spending priority of our DFW and state leaders is apex predator enhancement and rejuvenation. I believe that we'll see more wolves in the Boistfort Valley, coastal range, and Mt. St. Helens area as they figure out where to get easy meals.

You may be right. It will likely be around for a very long time which is unfortunate for hunters as well as the elk.

[konradcountry]

A much cheaper solution would be to ban herbicide use on forest lands. Grouse populations might recover as well if that were to ever happen.

I've changed my tune on this, but only a little. To ban herbicides, we'd need to get the EPA and WA regulations reversed on slash burning. Although I blame hoof rot on the timber companies and DNR spraying chemicals on forage, they need to have tools to combat the invasive weeds. I believe the timber companies would welcome its return instead of spending far more money on aerial spraying of harmful chemicals. 

I'm skeptical that an herbicide would affect the elk but not the deer.

My guess is that they are spraying a lot of round-up (glyphosate) because it is so cheap and effective. If something in glyphosate caused hoof rot then it would be a problem in multiple states.

[RB]

A much cheaper solution would be to ban herbicide use on forest lands. Grouse populations might recover as well if that were to ever happen.

I've changed my tune on this, but only a little. To ban herbicides, we'd need to get the EPA and WA regulations reversed on slash burning. Although I blame hoof rot on the timber companies and DNR spraying chemicals on forage, they need to have tools to combat the invasive weeds. I believe the timber companies would welcome its return instead of spending far more money on aerial spraying of harmful chemicals. 

 

[pianoman9701]

A much cheaper solution would be to ban herbicide use on forest lands. Grouse populations might recover as well if that were to ever happen.

I've changed my tune on this, but only a little. To ban herbicides, we'd need to get the EPA and WA regulations reversed on slash burning. Although I blame hoof rot on the timber companies and DNR spraying chemicals on forage, they need to have tools to combat the invasive weeds. I believe the timber companies would welcome its return instead of spending far more money on aerial spraying of harmful chemicals. 

I'm skeptical that an herbicide would affect the elk but not the deer.

My guess is that they are spraying a lot of round-up (glyphosate) because it is so cheap and effective. If something in glyphosate caused hoof rot then it would be a problem in multiple states.

It is now in OR. We're seeing it in the Eastern part of both states now, as well.

[jackelope]

A much cheaper solution would be to ban herbicide use on forest lands. Grouse populations might recover as well if that were to ever happen.

I've changed my tune on this, but only a little. To ban herbicides, we'd need to get the EPA and WA regulations reversed on slash burning. Although I blame hoof rot on the timber companies and DNR spraying chemicals on forage, they need to have tools to combat the invasive weeds. I believe the timber companies would welcome its return instead of spending far more money on aerial spraying of harmful chemicals. 

I'm skeptical that an herbicide would affect the elk but not the deer.

My guess is that they are spraying a lot of round-up (glyphosate) because it is so cheap and effective. If something in glyphosate caused hoof rot then it would be a problem in multiple states.

It is now in OR. We're seeing it in the Eastern part of both states now, as well.

Hoof rot in Eastern Washington?

[pianoman9701]

Confirmed in E. OR and investigating in E. WA

[jackelope]

Confirmed in E. OR and investigating in E. WA

Source?
Not that I doubt you, just wondering....

[pianoman9701]

Sorry, one confirmed in Kennewick. http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/hoof_disease/

[Special T]

WSU had an extension officers near Tumwater (If I remember right)  that did extensive testing of eating habits  of blacktail deer.  They had a herd of BT and piggy goats as a control group. They tested lots of sprays for deterring deer from eating the new growth in the spring on small trees to help them get started.  BT were immune to things the goats wouldn't eat. 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[dreamunelk]

WSU had an extension officers near Tumwater (If I remember right)  that did extensive testing of eating habits  of blacktail deer.  They had a herd of BT and piggy goats as a control group. They tested lots of sprays for deterring deer from eating the new growth in the spring on small trees to help them get started.  BT were immune to things the goats wouldn't eat. 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

That was USDA.

[Tbar]

Sorry, one confirmed in Kennewick. http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/hoof_disease/

A dead elk with a deformity does not mean it is confirmation.

[dreamunelk]

Sorry, one confirmed in Kennewick. http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/hoof_disease/

A dead elk with a deformity does not mean it is confirmation.

 

[dreamunelk]

Truly sad how uniformed many are.

WSU has been involved from the beginning.  So has USDA.  Nothing will change except the WSU will get a pile of money that WDFW never had and they will spend on indirect costs.  usually greater than 50% for universities.   State about 25%.  Also I was told there is a building funding involved. 

A limping elk is not always TAHD.  Over forty known disease issues that effect hooves. 

WDFW was directly involved in many peer reviewed published studies that many have not read because it does not support their opinions.  The bill is about politics to satisfy a few who have an agenda that is not about elk!  If you take the time to read all the studies you will be amazed at how much has been discovered.

Again nothing will change.  It will be a scientific process as usual.  Unless some of the anti hunting professors get involved.  Which is highly probable now.

So reap what you sow!

[Tbar]

Truly sad how uniformed many are.

WSU has been involved from the beginning.  So has USDA.  Nothing will change except the WSU will get a pile of money that WDFW never had and they will spend on indirect costs.  usually greater than 50% for universities.   State about 25%.  Also I was told there is a building funding involved. 

A limping elk is not always TAHD.  Over forty known disease issues that effect hooves. 

WDFW was directly involved in many peer reviewed published studies that many have not read because it does not support their opinions.  The bill is about politics to satisfy a few who have an agenda that is not about elk!  If you take the time to read all the studies you will be amazed at how much has been discovered.

Again nothing will change.  It will be a scientific process as usual.  Unless some of the anti hunting professors get involved.  Which is highly probable now.

So reap what you sow!

In addition to that the highest funded position in the fiscal note is an IT position not a scientist!

[Tbar]

Those who think this will be a big change might want to take a look a the TAG.

[pianoman9701]

I'm only going by the map which says it's a confirmed case. What have you got to dispute that?

[dreamunelk]

I'm only going by the map which says it's a confirmed case. What have you got to dispute that?

Not sure what map you are looking at that says confirmed.  Does it say confirmed case of Hoof Disease or confirmed deformity?

[pianoman9701]

You and TBar are correct. Listed as a deformity. Sorry. Carry on.

[dreamunelk]

Thanks.  I was really worried I was missing something obvious on the web page.

[jackelope]

That elk, by the map, is in the Blues. A report was made including a photo of the elk. Looks like a trail cam photo.

And it's a report from the public.