HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff recently captured elk in the Crazy Mountains northwest of Big Timber as part of a multi-year targeted elk brucellosis surveillance project.
All blood samples collected from 52 captured elk tested negative for exposure to brucellosis.
“Test data from live elk captures inform brucellosis management decisions in Montana,” said State Veterinarian Tahnee Szymanski. “These negative test results are valuable to Montana’s livestock industry as they help provide confidence to our trading partners about the quality and strength of our state program.”
Capture operations in the Crazy Mountains were conducted in late January. Sixteen elk were outfitted with GPS collars that will be active for one year to help wildlife managers better understand their seasonal ranges, migration routes and potential mixing with other elk herds.
The goal of these operations is to evaluate the presence and understand the movement of brucellosis in Montana’s elk populations. The surveillance also helps wildlife managers and animal health officials understand the overlap between elk and livestock on the landscape.
“We understand that helicopter capture is unappealing to many landowners, and we sincerely appreciate those who took the time to consider our request for capture access,” said FWP Research Technician Jenny Jones.
Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that can infect humans, cattle, bison and elk and can result in abortion or the birth of weak calves. The disease is primarily transmitted through contact with infected birth tissues and fluids.
The Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) administers a brucellosis surveillance program for livestock in an area of southwest Montana called the Designated Surveillance Area (DSA). Requirements within the DSA protect the state and national livestock industry from the inadvertent spread of brucellosis through livestock movement. Livestock within the DSA are at risk of exposure to brucellosis from infected wildlife and are therefore subject to additional brucellosis testing requirements for movement and change of ownership, as well as additional traceability requirements.
Live elk captures in and around the perimeter of the DSA inform decisions on boundary adjustments by DOL. The Crazy Mountains are located outside of the DSA. The recent test results from the Crazy Mountains provide support for keeping the current DSA boundary unchanged.
Montana’s targeted elk brucellosis surveillance project is a joint effort between DOL and FWP, with support from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. In addition, this project and capture operation would not be possible without the support and permission from landowners to capture elk on their property.
More information about the surveillance project can be found online at fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/elk.
For more information about how brucellosis is managed in Montana livestock, visit liv.mt.gov/Animal-Health/Reportable-Animal-Diseases/Brucellosis.
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