Groups pursue suit over Wyo.’s elk-feeding program

by By JUDITH KOHLER (AP)
DENVER – Wyoming’s longtime policy of feeding elk in winter on public lands is contributing to the spread of disease, and the federal government should take a hard look at the practice, conservation groups argued Thursday.
U.S. agencies have allowed the state to feed elk for decades on public land in western [...]

Ranchers Target Elk in Brucellosis Witchhunt

(We saw this one coming forever. As always, my opinion is that the cattle should be removed from the area. I don’t buy into the ranching heritage nonsense. The tens of thousands of years of indigenous heritage where bison and elk roamed freely trumps that many times over. Time to mooove on, cattle industry.)
BILLINGS, Mont. [...]

New hunt changes elk migration habits

By Cory Hatch, Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Jackson Hole elk migration habits have changed this year due in part to good forage, light snowfall and a new hunt on the south end of the National Elk Refuge, biologists say.
This year, animals lingered longer on so-called “transitional range” in Grand Teton National Park and subdivisions south of the [...]

Latest elk trial draws few spectators

Latest elk trial draws few spectators
Accused poachers back in court this week, in relation to 2001/02 Cowichan Lake slayings
Ashley Gaudreault, The Citizen
Denis Martel of the Wilderness Watch, Valley Fish & Game Club says we need to support our conservation officers and that’s why he’s attending a poaching trial in Duncan, which started again on Monday, [...]

Brucellosis focus shifts from bison to elk

By MATTHEW BROWN, Associated Press
BILLINGS, Mont. — Government agencies killed more than 6,000 wild bison leaving Yellowstone National Park over the last two decades — the grisly result of efforts to contain a serious livestock disease carried by the animals.
But the crosshairs are shifting to a new target, elk, as the disease infects cattle in [...]

Conservation Groups say hay donation for Wyoming Elk not needed

By Cory Hatch JACKSON HOLE NEWS
December 7, 2006
Local environmental groups say a plan to donate bales of hay to the National Elk Refuge isn’t necessary because the Gros Ventre Valley produces more than enough natural forage for 5,000 elk to last through the winter. (read more)

Officials again arrest Idaho elk rancher

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — An elk rancher whose animals escaped earlier this year has paid a $5,000 bond and been released from jail after being arrested for failing to appear on a misdemeanor charge. (read more)

Second Test ‘Suspect’ for Red Deer Genes in Rammell Elk

KIFI-TV IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) – An official says a domesticated cow elk from an eastern Idaho hunting preserve will either be destroyed, neutered or shipped out of state after a second test came back indicating possible red deer hybrid genes.
John Chatburn of the Idaho Department of Agriculture says the choice of what to do [...]

Weekly News Round-up

Here’s some news stories that caught my interest this week that I thought I would pass along. I will be adding more stories as the day goes on, so check back Monday for the full post.
WILDLIFE/ENVIRONMENT/ANIMAL RIGHTS
Grizzly Bears Spotted Near Independence Pass, Colorado
It has just been reported that 2 hunters who are experienced with [...]

More Escaped Elk News

For those of you not yet aware of this issue, here’s a quick run down: Last month 200 domesticated elk escaped from a hunt ranch ten miles from the YNP boundary in Idaho. This escape was not reported for a couple weeks after that, and once it was, all sorts of acusations flew as to [...]