Action Grams
Elk Unjustifiably under the Gun: Elk and the Spectre of Brucellosis
While no conclusive evidence exists that the latest positive test in Paradise Valley has come from either Bison or Elk, that has not stopped those who would either privatize or kill off wildlife species such as bison and elk from our public landscape rather than work to find an equitable solution for all involved.
Let’s explore what’s really happening with Elk, open spaces, brucellosis and Yellowstone area. Changing landownership patterns, loss of traditional access for hunters on private lands that were once open and changing herd dynamics due to wolves and other predators have shown us that elk are now wintering more frequently on private lands that are closed to public hunting in Montana. Harboring has become a huge issue in the management of elk herds in a manner that benefits both livestock and wildlife. The mantra of too many elk is not founded in the science of wildlife management, but in the social tolerance of a few landowners. What is playing out now is that new landowners who do not allow access, do not consider the impacts to neighboring landowners, lease their lands to commercial hunting interests exclusively, or refuse to work with FWP only to end up harboring large concentrations of elk in what essentially become feed-grounds.
Twenty three feed grounds not far from the southern border of Yellowstone, including the National Elk Refuge, are unnaturally concentrating elk, and increasing the Seroprevalence rates in Wyoming elk. To further complicate the issue, wild elk herds on the east side of Yellowstone are showing increased Seroprevalence rates. While there is no easy solution to the feed ground issue in Wyoming, and it is the job of Wyoming to manage it’s own wildlife, it is clear that concentrating elk unnaturally is a sure way to increase brucellosis in elk.
Montana, as well as Wyoming and Idaho, must find a way to move away from the big brother approach of federal bureaucracies like APHIS, and come up with some solutions that do not jeopardize our incredibly important wildlife, and our equally important livestock industry. APHIS, back when pasteurization of milk was not widespread, electricity was only in cities, and Henry Ford was still putting out Model A’s, devised a rule that said brucellosis must be eradicated from America. At the time, it was a sensible rule. Real human health concerns existed from contracting undulant fever. That philosophy has not been updated in over 70 years. It is what drives the actions of APHIS, and it drives those who would decimate public wildlife for a solution to a nonexistent problem.
It’s time APHIS recognizes what the state of Montana, Livestock Producers, Wildlife Advocates, and hunters know too well, that the system is broken. It’s time to go back to the drawing board and find new solutions that do not require massive depopulations of wildlife, or that would turn Montana’s treasured public wildlife herds in to private herds for commercial interests. Montana must focus on research to develop a vaccine that is effective in eliminating the disease in cattle, ensure that elk do not congregate on amenity ranches, and focus on minimizing co-mingling of elk and cattle. Trying to vaccinate wildlife is a pipedream that is irresponsible to both livestock producers, and wildlife enthusiasts. Solving this issue is going to require an investment by the legislature. It’s going to require new legislation focusing on the harboring of wildlife, helping landowners minimize exposure to wildlife through fencing and herd management plans; it will require funding for testing of cattle both inside and outside the risk area and for aggressive efforts to develop a more effective cattle vaccine, and it’s going to require the federal Government to step up to the plate, and act like they’re in the twenty-first century, instead of driving around in that Model A Ford. Livestock producers should not bear the full brunt of the cost to keep their herds free of brucellosis. At the same time, the burden of outdated rules and regulations must not be shouldered by wildlife, and hunters.
Hugo Tureck
Associate Director, Region 4
Montana Wildlife Federation
HC 76 Box 29
Coffee Creek, MT 59424
(406) 567-2480 (tel)
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, and make sure you send that letter to the Governor’s office as well (addresses below). Keep Montana’s wildlife wild, and available to all!
Thank you for stepping up for Montana's wildlife, lands, waters and our hunting/angling heritage!
Governor Brian Schweitzer
E-mail: governor@mt.gov
Capital Station
Helena, MT 59620
(406) 444-3111
(406) 444-5529 (fax)
Billings Gazette speakup@billingsgazette.com
PO Box 36300
Billings, MT59107-6300
Bozeman Chronicle citydesk@dailychronicle.com
PO Box 1190
Bozeman, MT 59771
Great Falls Tribune tribcity@greatfallstribune.com
205 River Drive South
Great Falls, MT 59405
Daily Interlake newsed@dailyinterlake.com
727 East Idaho
Kalispell, MT 59901
Missoulian newsdesk@missoulian.com
PO Box 8029
Missoula, MT 59807
Montana Standard editor@mtstandard.com
25 West Granite
Butte, MT 59701
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