Montana’s elk brucellosis working group will meet in Bozeman July 19 to review the results of last winter’s activities. The group was charged with developing elk management options in areas where the transmission of brucellosis between elk and livestock is a concern.
The working group led an effort to examine effective elk management options and risk prevention efforts in several southwestern Montana hunting districts. The areas generally include hunting districts that border or are near Yellowstone National Park.
Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial infection in domestic animals, wildlife and humans worldwide. In Montana, brucellosis has been detected in elk, bison and cattle in areas surrounding Yellowstone National Park. The disease results in miscarriages in some pregnant animals, including domestic cattle, bison and elk.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has a keen interest in better management of the disease and has a long history of providing funding and other support for Brucellosis-related scientific research.
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(Photo source: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks)