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Deer, elk ban could affect restoration program
By SCOTT MOONEYHAM, Associated Press Writer
May 20, 2002
RALEIGH, N.C. -- A decision to ban the import of deer and elk into North Carolina could stop additional releases of elk into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, state and federal officials said Monday.
Emergency rules adopted last week by the Wildlife Resources Commission also have the potential to harm dozens of operations that raise deer commercially, state officials said.
State veterinarian David Marshall and wildlife officials defended the decision, saying they had little choice but to respond to the growing threat of chronic wasting disease.
"This chronic wasting disease is a major, major problem, and it is a major, major threat," Marshall said. "It presents a very difficult scenario in terms of stopping its spread once a herd is infected."
The disease, which causes the animals to gradually lose weight and die, has shown up in captive elk herds in six states and two Canadian provinces and in wild deer and elk herds in five states and Saskatchewan.
A recent outbreak of the disease in wild deer in Wisconsin, where 14 dead deer were found to be infected, has led to import bans in several states. Wisconsin officials plan to kill an estimated 15,000 deer in a 287-square mile area in effort to stop the spread of the disease.
State officials argued against introduction of elk into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park because of fears the animals could bring chronic wasting disease. At the time the program was started, the disease had not been seen east of the Mississippi River.
So far, two groups of elk totaling 54 animals have been released into the North Carolina side of the park, in the Cataloochee area. A third release had been planned for next winter.
Park spokesman Bob Miller said the park service is still trying to determine whether the ban will prevent the additional release.
"Chronic wasting disease has been one of our biggest concerns from the beginning. That's why we got the elk where we did," Miller said. "We're very comfortable about the health of the animals that have come in."
The last release of 29 elk came from Elk Island National Park near Alberta, Canada. The herd there is isolated and free from disease, Miller said.
State officials say there may be little they can do to block the National Park Service from bringing in animals from Tennessee and releasing them onto federal land. The ban would prevent elk from being transported through the state before reaching the park.
Marshall, though, said as more states adopt bans it will become more difficult for the park service to transport elk from Canada.
David Cobb of the Wildlife Resources Commission said permanent rules will be adopted that will determine what kind of exceptions will be made.
Those rules will also affect the transport of deer and elk at 82 farms and animal parks in the state. The operations range from elk raised for the velvet from their horns to animals raised for slaughter.
"The agency felt like we had to protect the (wild deer) herd in this state," Cobb said.
By SCOTT MOONEYHAM, Associated Press Writer
May 20, 2002
RALEIGH, N.C. -- A decision to ban the import of deer and elk into North Carolina could stop additional releases of elk into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, state and federal officials said Monday.
Emergency rules adopted last week by the Wildlife Resources Commission also have the potential to harm dozens of operations that raise deer commercially, state officials said.
State veterinarian David Marshall and wildlife officials defended the decision, saying they had little choice but to respond to the growing threat of chronic wasting disease.
"This chronic wasting disease is a major, major problem, and it is a major, major threat," Marshall said. "It presents a very difficult scenario in terms of stopping its spread once a herd is infected."
The disease, which causes the animals to gradually lose weight and die, has shown up in captive elk herds in six states and two Canadian provinces and in wild deer and elk herds in five states and Saskatchewan.
A recent outbreak of the disease in wild deer in Wisconsin, where 14 dead deer were found to be infected, has led to import bans in several states. Wisconsin officials plan to kill an estimated 15,000 deer in a 287-square mile area in effort to stop the spread of the disease.
State officials argued against introduction of elk into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park because of fears the animals could bring chronic wasting disease. At the time the program was started, the disease had not been seen east of the Mississippi River.
So far, two groups of elk totaling 54 animals have been released into the North Carolina side of the park, in the Cataloochee area. A third release had been planned for next winter.
Park spokesman Bob Miller said the park service is still trying to determine whether the ban will prevent the additional release.
"Chronic wasting disease has been one of our biggest concerns from the beginning. That's why we got the elk where we did," Miller said. "We're very comfortable about the health of the animals that have come in."
The last release of 29 elk came from Elk Island National Park near Alberta, Canada. The herd there is isolated and free from disease, Miller said.
State officials say there may be little they can do to block the National Park Service from bringing in animals from Tennessee and releasing them onto federal land. The ban would prevent elk from being transported through the state before reaching the park.
Marshall, though, said as more states adopt bans it will become more difficult for the park service to transport elk from Canada.
David Cobb of the Wildlife Resources Commission said permanent rules will be adopted that will determine what kind of exceptions will be made.
Those rules will also affect the transport of deer and elk at 82 farms and animal parks in the state. The operations range from elk raised for the velvet from their horns to animals raised for slaughter.
"The agency felt like we had to protect the (wild deer) herd in this state," Cobb said.
