100 elk dead in New Mexico

[easeup]

from the NMDGF ....
SANTA FE – The Department of Game and Fish is investigating the deaths of more than 100 elk discovered this week in northeastern New Mexico.
Department biologists traveled to the area in Game Management Unit 46 north of Las Vegas after the die-off was reported Tuesday morning. The biologists found at least 100 dead elk in a ½- to ¾-mile area within the same 24-hour period. Tissue samples and water samples from the area were taken and delivered to the state Veterinary Diagnostic Services laboratory for analysis.
“At this time we’re looking into all possible causes, including epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD),” said Kerry Mower, the Department’s wildlife disease specialist. “What we do know from aerial surveys is that the die-off appears to be confined to a relatively small area, and that the elk were not shot by poachers.”
EHD is a sometimes fatal virus that affects deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and rarely cattle. The disease has been found throughout the United States and has been known to kill large numbers of animals in short periods of time. Samples from the dead elk were sent to a laboratory in the southeastern United States that specializes in EHD.
Other possible causes of the die-off include poisoning, either by something in the water or by elk consuming poisonous plants such as loco weed. Blue tongue, a virus similar to epizootic hemorrhagic disease, is another possible culprit, but early suspicions are focusing on EHD.

[cnelk]

Thats too bad.

In 1999 56 elk were killed by a lightning strike on Mt Evans in Colorado.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67419680.html

[ElkNut1]

Wow, hope they can get a handle on the problem!

ElkNut1

[Lefty]

It will be intresting to find out what happened

In 1999 56 elk were killed by a lightning strike tml

My neighbor was a railroad engineer. They mostly killed cows because hits had to be reported, but "near misses" on game werent.
Wintering game was the worse the nonly shollow snow was often the tracks

[JGH]

100 dead ... let's hope the survivors aren't spreading something around. That's a pretty virulent illness to kill that many. I'd think that since they were close to each other, they must've died around the same time ...

[LarryBud]

The Biologist will figure it out.

I've seen first hand the effects of an EHD outbreak. We had a wonderful Whitetail heard nearly eliminated in one year a decade ago in SD. Once it gets going it kills fast and has no mercy.