Canon City Daily Record
Publish Date: 9/12/2005
Two elk test positive for wasting disease
David Young
Daily Record Staff Writer
The U.S. Department of Agriculture completed its extermination and analysis
of 296 elk for chronic wasting disease at Ron Walker Ranch on Saturday in
Penrose.
Out of 296 elk in the herd, it was
determined two elk suffered from CWD, a fatal neurological disease found in
elk and deer. The disease attacks the brain of infected animals, causing
erratic behavior, loss of bodily functions, emaciation and death.
The remaining 294 elk were disposed of in Phantom Landfill, north of
Florence, with the Fremont County Commissioner’s approval.
According to the Colorado Division of Wildlife Web site, there is no known
connection between human health issues and CWD, but much is still unknown
about the disease, such as how it originates and spreads.
The elk’s heads, suspected of infection, along with tissue samples, were
sent to the Diagnostics Laboratory at Colorado State University in Fort
Collins, where they were tested for the disease. The two elk confirmed of
being infected with CWD also were transported to Fort Collins.
“This whole process evolved quickly,” Commissioner Mike Stiehl said, who has
a degree in biology specializing in wildlife and has worked for the DOW
doing research. “The plan changed a lot. Originally, they were just going to
throw (the elk) in the dump.”
The commissioners made it clear at the Sept. 1 meeting they were against
putting positively tested CWD elk in the landfill.
“It is bad public policy to allow positively tested animals into the
landfill,” Stiehl said, who was concerned with the uncertainties with the
disease and the possibility of exposure to groundwater in a landfill.
Walker was unable to be reached for comment by press time.