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Pinedale Online > News > February 2010 > Elk testing program ends

Morning light. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
Morning light
The sun breaks through the cloud cover over the Wind River Mountains as elk move along a hillside at the Scab Creek elk feedground Monday morning.

Scab pen. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
Scab pen
Cow elk are held in the trap at the Scab Creek elk feedground.
Elk testing program ends
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
February 9, 2010

State wildlife officials managed to trap and handle elk for brucellosis testing at two elk feedgrounds this week. With successful trapping at both Scab Creek and Muddy Creek elk feedgrounds, the five-year test-and-slaughter program has reached its end.

The program was a pilot project recommended by the Wyoming Governor's Brucellosis Coordination Team, and was aimed at reducing the brucellosis seroprevalance rate in the Pinedale elk herd. Trapping and testing efforts have taken place at the three feedgrounds used by elk in this herd unit (Muddy, Scab and Fall creeks).

More than 2,000 elk were handled in the program, with about 1,000 sampled for brucellosis testing. Less than 200 animals were removed for slaughter due to positive test results.

This week's effort involved the bleeding of 108 elk, with 13 testing positive and sent to slaughter. Testing last month resulted in 21 animals being sent to slaughter in this last of the five-year program.



Related Links
  • Brucellosis Management - Wyoming Game & Fish

  • Calf release. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Calf release
    An elk calf is released after it receives an eartag.

    Erik. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Erik
    Erik Maichak records information about an elk he had just bled for brucellosis testing.

    Close up cow. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Close up cow
    A curious cow elk steps in for a closer look.

    Jill. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Jill
    Pinedale habitat biologist Jill Miller records data on a blood tube.

    Push to overnight. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Push to overnight
    Scott Werbelow stands back out of sight while partitions are opened to run the elk into the larger round pen for the night.

    Cow alley. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Cow alley
    A cow elk begins her run down an alleyway into a large round holding pen where the cows will await the results of their blood testing.

    Deform. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Deform
    This bull elk drew lots of attention for his atypical presentation.

    Deform2. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Deform2
    Another view of the atypical bull elk.

    Ken Mills. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Ken Mills
    Ken Mills records data on each elk sampled for brucellosis testing on his personal digital assistant/scanner.

    Muddy blind. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Muddy blind
    A blind sits amid the haystack at Muddy Creek, providing a vantage point from which to trigger the gate to the trap.

    Loading chutes. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Loading chutes
    Partitions are held open so the elk will run down the length of the chutes, with each partition closed as elk as separated into individual boxes and chutes.

    Waiting. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Waiting
    These elk are held in a "box" and will be the next group sorted and processed.

    Tyler. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Tyler
    Tyler Creech of USGS records data for his elk research project.

    Crew working. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Crew working
    Cow elk are worked in each of five squeeze chutes on one wing of the trap. There are another five chutes on the other wing of the trap, which is not pictured.

    Muddy pen. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Muddy pen
    Elk await sorting and processing in the Muddy Creek elk trap.

    Dean. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Dean
    A cow elk pays close attention to Dean Clause's every move.

    Recording. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Recording
    Keeping tabs on elk in five chutes isn't an easy task, but the crew has an excellent system in place to do just that.

    Werb & Bernie. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Werb & Bernie
    Scott Werbelow and Bernie Holz visit about the day's progress.

    Crew. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Crew
    The crew that worked elk at the Scab Creek and Muddy Creek elk feedgrounds in the final year of the program.

    Todd Cornish. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Todd Cornish
    Dr. Todd Cornish of the Wyoming State Vet Lab got drenched with elk blood when he hit a vein in a cow elk that was very troublesome to get a blood sample from.

    Tim Thomas. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Tim Thomas
    Sheridan wildlife biologist Tim Thomas places a collar on the neck of a cow elk.

    Cleanup. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Cleanup
    Members of the crew get everything packed up and put away at the end of the day Monday at Muddy Creek.

    To round pen. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    To round pen
    Cow elk head down an alleyway into the larger overnight pen.

    Three ladies. Photo by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online.
    Three ladies
    The three women who worked the elk every year: Kate Belinda, Dr. Cynthia Tate, and Jill Miller
    Pinedale Online > News > February 2010 > Elk testing program ends

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