State wildlife biologists propose TB study.

Byline: From Register-Guard and news service reports

State wildlife biologists propose killing about 250 deer and 100 elk in northeastern Oregon this winter to determine if tuberculosis (TB) has spread from domestic to wild herds.

The animals would be killed in a 25- to 50-square-mile area near Kimberly in Grant County, where one farm-reared elk tested positive for the disease, according to the proposal released this week by by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The sick animal was one of 51 elk imported from Kansas in May 2000.

It takes 72 hours for scientists to read the results of tuberculosis skin tests. Wild animals cannot be held that long, so the animals must be killed to conduct the tests, wildlife officials have said.

"Our interest in protecting Oregon's livestock and wildlife is paramount," said Ron Anglin, the ODFW's wildlife division administrator. "We're committed to answering the question, `Does TB exist in the wild?' and to take whatever actions are necessary to contain and remove potential risks to livestock and migrating wildlife."

There is no indication TB has spread to Oregon wildlife at this time, Anglin said.

Agricultural and wildlife officials began investigating the possible sources of infection - including people, cattle, farmed elk and wildlife - when tuberculosis was found in November at a ranch in Grant County.

All people currently living on the Kimberly ranch who had contact with the elk have tested negative for TB.

Federal and state agricultural officials began testing ranch cattle this week using a non-lethal TB skin test, and testing of farmed elk will soon follow.

Wild deer, elk and scavengers will be collected on winter range in late February and March. The scavengers serve as an additional checkpoint to determine if the disease is present.

The selected animals will be shot from helicopters, and the carcasses will then be transported by air to a central processing area where tissues will be removed for laboratory testing. ODFW is considering plans to donate the venison to charitable organizations.

The deer and elk herds must be sampled during winter to help prevent the possibility of exposing more wildlife or livestock before spring migration occurs, biologists said.

TB is caused by a bacterial infection that settles in the lymph nodes and lungs and can affect most mammals. The most likely transmission method occurs with prolonged "nose to nose" contact. Horses and some other species are not considered significant in maintaining or transmitting the disease. Clinical signs include coughing, loss of appetite, weight loss, fluctuating fever and death.

Wildlife and agricultural officials believe the risk of transmission exists between cattle, farmed elk and wildlife. Wild elk and deer, as well as cattle, all had access to the exterior fences of the pens holding farmed elk.

A final decision on the extent of the wildlife survey will be made later this month, after the state agricultural department receives results of non-lethal TB skin tests on 280 cattle and 200 farmed elk.

Any ranch animals that react to the test will be euthanized and veterinarians will examine each carcass for evidence of TB. Eighty cattle sold last summer by the rancher who owned the infected elk tested negative using the TB skin test.

In addition to the wildlife survey, ODFW will be checking hunter-harvested deer and elk at mandatory check stations this fall in some hunts in the Northside wildlife management unit and portions of the Heppner and Fossil units.

Plans for the mandatory check stations will be publicized before the controlled hunt application deadline of May 15, 2002.

TB test results and wildlife sampling plans will be discussed at informational meetings to be scheduled for late February or early March in Monument, La Grande, Bend, Portland and Medford.

Additional information about wildlife diseases in Oregon, including hunter safety information, is posted to the following Web site: www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrWild/elktb.htm.