September 19, 2007

Poachers Busted
The Charter
17 Sep 2007
L Browne

IFEP officers break up major salmon poaching operation at Branch River


Officers from the Inland Fish Enforcement Program (IFEP) of the Department of Justice have recently apprehended three individuals in relation to a major salmon poaching operation uncovered at the headwaters of the Branch River on Monday, Sept. 3. IFEP officers have been conducting surveillance in the area for some time and decided on aplan to target the suspected poaching activity. Four officers intercepted two individuals as they were travelling on ATVs and after a short chase, they stopped and apprehended the suspects.

“Our officers have targeted this area because it has been identified as a problem area for poaching. As a result of complaints from the public and information received in past years and investigative work carried out by our officers, it was decided to establish a surveillance operation in that area to deal with the illegal netting complaints and information on illegal netting activity that was taking place,” says Tony Porter, director of the Inland Fish Enforcement Program.




Californians Bite the Bullet to Save Rare Condor [Article Preview]

NewScientistSpace
14 Sep 2007
Area: California, USA

Will Arnie help save the California condor, or will he say "Hasta la vista, baby"? The California state legislature has backed a bill to ban game hunters from using lead bullets in the birds' range, and only a veto by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger can prevent the measure from becoming law.

Lead poisoning from carcasses tainted with fragments of bullets or shot is the main threat to the survival of the condor (Gymnogyps californianus), which has clawed its way back from the brink thanks to a successful captive breeding programme (New Scientist, 28 February, p 14). Last week, the California senate passed the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act, which will require hunters to use non-lead ammunition for hunting big game and coyotes in central and southern California.




Foot and Mouth Disease, Bovine - UK (England) (30) Archive Number 20070919.3110

ProMED-mail - promedmail.org
19 Sep 2007
Area: UK

In this update:
[1] DEFRA: vaccination decision and further test results
[2] German veterinarians support vaccination
[3] Recent outbreak: impact upon sheep industry
[4] Resuming export: prospects and timetable

FMD update: vaccination decision and further test results
---------------------------------------------------------
The option to vaccinate is a central element of the contingency planning
arrangements in foot and mouth disease [FMD] outbreaks. The arrangements to
enable vaccination were triggered again immediately following confirmation
of disease on 12 Sep 2007. The Forward Vaccination Centre, with teams ready
to vaccinate should the decision be taken, was in place by 17 Sep 2007.




Deer Disease Spreads Quickly

The Courier Journal
16 Sep 2007
G Garth

Kentucky wildlife officials say epizootic hemorrhagic disease -- a fairly common ailment that affects whitetail deer -- now has been reported across more than half the state. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, is transmitted from deer to deer by biting gnats or midges. It is nearly always fatal, and infected deer usually die within 72 hours.

Danny Watson, a biologist and disease specialist for the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, said EHD doesn't affect humans or livestock but noted that bluetongue -- a virus closely related to EHD -- can affect cattle and some other livestock. "There's a lot that's not known about EHD," he said. "But the spread of the disease from deer to livestock or from livestock to deer has never been documented. Bluetongue can affect livestock. (Bluetongue) and EHD are related, but the important thing to remember is that they are genetically distinct virus strains."

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