Sharpshooters Used In Bovine Tuberculosis Outbreak
The Associated Press (Posted by wcco.com)
13 Mar 2007
Area: Minnesota, USA

Federal sharpshooters have killed about 225 whitetails in the last three weeks in an effort to measure and control an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in the area. It will take about three months to find out whether the tissue from any of the deer tested positive for TB, said Michelle Powell, wildlife health program coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

"Heaven forbid if it ends up being an epidemic of TB up here," said Conway Marvin, who owns land near Skime. "It will impact our economy. Thousands of jobs up here depend on that time of year." Seven wild deer -- two during the 2005 hunting season and five during last fall's season -- were found to be infected with the disease. Officials believe it came into the state through cattle, and contact between cattle and deer can spread it to the deer population.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Related Articles
>>>U.S., Canada Nearing BSE 'Controlled Risk' Status
>>>Bovine TB Issue Unites Politicians

Chronic Wasting Disease Not Detected in Virginia White-tailed Deer
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (Posted by PRNewswire.com)
13 Mar 2007
Area: Virginia, USA

After extensive testing, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) has not found any evidence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Virginia's white-tailed deer population. In 2006, over 800 samples were collected from white-tailed deer throughout the state. Approximately 500 samples were collected from the active surveillance area, which includes the western and northern parts of Shenandoah, Frederick, Clarke and Loudoun Counties, the area of Virginia closest to where CWD has been detected in West Virginia.

VDGIF Wildlife Division Director Bob Duncan said of the test results, "This is clearly good news, and we could not have achieved this without the hard work of the field biologists, and the cooperation and support of our partners. In particular, we owe a debt of gratitude to the staff of the Virginia Department of Transportation for their assistance with collecting road-killed deer, and to local meat processors, and above all, to the hunters who allowed us to test their deer."

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Related Link:
>>>Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries CWD Page

Feral Hogs Pose Potential Problems
Quay County Sun
10 Mar 2007
Thomas Garcia
Area: California, USA

Invading feral hogs are wreaking havoc on some farm and ranch lands in Quay County. And if left unchecked, the problems spread, state wildlife experts said. “We had them uproot and damage one of our fields so bad that it looked like the Army had been out there shelling,” said Quay County farmer and rancher Ted Rush. “We farm on top of the cap and they have destroyed our crops before. When we have wheat, they uproot the roots and when the Milo heads bloom, they knock down the stalks and eat the heads.”

Rush, who farms and ranches 12,000 acres on the caprock, said he knows first hand that getting rid of the intruders can be a handful but is aware of the destructive implications if the animal is left unchecked. “They have been in this area for about four years,” said Rush. “I have seen some herds with as many as 30 hogs. They are nocturnal animals and can travel great distances. In the four years, I have killed over 100 of the animals. The older boars do have tusk. But, I have not killed any of them or even seen one.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Mystery Illness Kills at Least 24 Penguins at Seaworld
ABC News Online
13 Mar 2007
Area: Queensland, Australia

More than two dozen penguins have died at Seaworld on Queensland's Gold Coast after succumbing to a mystery illness. Experts from the Primary Industries Department were called in to help find the cause when the birds began dying last Thursday.

The remaining 12 birds are being monitored. Vets say the investigation is in its early stage, but they have ruled out avian influenza and other exotic diseases.

>>>TO ARTICLE

Whirling Disease Found In The Duchesne River: DWR Worried It Could Spread To Strawberry Reservoir
KCPW
13 Mar 2007
Eric Ray
Area: Utah, USA

Biologists from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources have discovered whirling disease in the Duchesne River and they are concerned the disease could hamper efforts to conserve the population of Colorado River cutthroat trout. There are two concerns should the disease spread upstream above the Central Utah Project water diversion system. It could enter the West Fork where the Colorado River cutthroat are the source of a brood population that provide eggs for the DWR's conservation effort.

The disease could also find its way into major fisheries like Strawberry and Currant Creek Reservoirs. Roger Schneidervin, a Regional Aquatics Manager for the DWR, says 60% of Bear Lake cutthroat trout in Strawberry come from streams that feed the reservoir. If the disease spreads to Strawberry, more than half of its fish would have to be raised or replaced with Rainbow Trout.In an effort to prevent a spread, the DWR has placed a fish barrier in the Duchesne River to keep them from swimming upstream.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Book Reviews of Interest

Investigation and Management of Disease in Wild Animals
Author: GA Wobeser
Reviewed by Eric Broughton [free full-text]

Essentials of Disease in Wild Animals
Author: GA Wobeser
Reviewed by Jane Parmley [free full-text]