Proposed wasting disease rules draw fire from wildlife groups

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Proposed rules to prevent the spread of an alarming disease among game-farm animals are being strongly supported by the industry, but questioned by conservation groups.

The rules are designed to prevent the spread of so-called chronic wasting desease, which strikes elk and some species of deer. It causes brain damage that affects motor coordination and the ability to maintain proper nutrition.

Researchers say it is similar to the "mad cow disease" that has appeared in European cattle herds and which, in turn, has been linked by some scientists to the fatal human brain ailment, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

Last June, it was reported that an elk on a game farm in Oklahoma that originally came from Montana had died of the disease. The Montana game farm is now under quarantine, according to State Veterinarian Arnold Gertonson.

The disease has been found in wild elk and deer in Colorado and Wyoming as well as in game farm animals in South Dakota.

Montana enacted emergency rules in November banning the importation of animals from any area where chronic wasting disease is endemic. The rules also require any imported game farm or wild animal to be under surveillance for at least 12 months before entering Montana.

The state Livestock Department is considering permanent rules that follow a proposal developed by the North American Elk Breeders Association, according to Jack Schubarth, president of the Montana Alternative Livestock Producers.

"When it became apparent it had spread into the game farm industry, the industry itself got pretty excited about it. We developed a protocol we want to see used nationwide," Shubarth said.

But the Montana Wildlife Federation questions the proposed rules and the Livestock Department's priorities.

"The rules should provide zero tolerance in the protection of the state's wildlife," said Tony Jewett, the federation's executive director. "This proposal provides protocols that reduce the odds, but they don't reduce them nearly enough."

The federation believes the proposal as written violates state law.

"State code says the state shall prevent importing any species that poses a threat to native wildlife or livestock. The CWD proposal says the state veterinarian has the discretion to deny or not deny importation," Jewett said.

Jewett compared the flexibility of the proposed rules with the department's policy of killing wild bison to prevent the spread of brucellosis.

"DOL practices a scorched-earth policy to protect cattle from brucellosis. I'm amazed they're reluctant to take consistent steps to protect wildlife from CWD," Jewett said. "DOL is completely protective of agriculture and shows complete disdain for the state's wild animals."

Gertonson said the state bison policy is based on the fact that the bison herd is known to be infected. The proposed rules on wasting disease allow flexibility to deal with animals that have no known infection as well as leaving options open as scientific knowledge of the disease expands.

"Within what we're proposing, animals from a known infected herd would not be allowed for importation. We anticipate there will be changes in findings and information as we go along here," Gertonson said. "We believe state law allows us to make exceptions on a case by case basis."

The proposed rules also require any deer or elk that dies on game farms in Montana be tested for wasting disease, which cannot be diagnosed while the animal is alive. The game farm owner would be responsible for testing costs, about $200 per test.

Public comment on the rules is being accepted until March 13.