Dan & Becky Snyder
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:45 pm Post subject: MAD-elk Coalition Update
fyi Walt Walter O.Cottrell, MS,DVM Wildlife Veterinarian Pennsylvania Game Commission Animal Diagnostic Laboratory Orchard Road University Park, PA 16802 814.863.8370 >
-----Original Message-----
> From: Cottrell, Walter
> Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 1:29 PM
> To: Boyd, Robert
> Subject:
>
>
> . Groups aim to shut down captive elk-ranching industry
> By Mark Freeman
> Mail Tribune [OR]
> January 4, 2007
>
>
> The unlikely bedfellows of animal-rights and hunting groups again are
> taking a collective run at closing Oregon's captive elk-ranching
> industry over fears the exotic herds threaten wild elk populations.
>
> But this time, the so-called MAD-elk Coalition has found fresh wind in
> its sails thanks to the misfortunes of an Idaho elk rancher whose
> animals escaped last summer, threatening the health and gene pool of
> Yellowstone's storied elk.
>
> Backers say they don't want an Oregon ranch to repeat the escape of more
> than 100 exotic elk in Idaho, where the state's governor has ordered the
> wayward animals shot before they can interbreed with native elk.
>
> Now the coalition here has support from the Oregon Department of Fish
> and Wildlife in calling for the drafting of new rules that would
> increase fencing restrictions on the remaining 16 elk ranches in Oregon
> and ban any transfers of ranching licenses.
>
> That would mean current ranches would be further isolated from any
> contact with wild elk. Eventually, the practice of raising elk for meat
> and antler sales here would eventually disappear when current ranchers
> die or fold their businesses.
>
>
> Full text: <http://tinyurl.com/yyqb67>
>
> Walt
> Walter O.Cottrell, MS,DVM
> Wildlife Veterinarian
> Pennsylvania Game Commission
> Animal Diagnostic Laboratory
> Orchard Road
> University Park, PA 16802
> 814.863.8370
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