Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana Fish and Wildlife commissioners seeking to reduce the spread of disease to cattle will allow landowners to fence out and kill elk in the spring.
The commission approved the proposal 3-2 during a Thursday meeting.
The plan will allow Park County ranchers to ask Fish, Wildlife and Parks to pay for elk-proof fencing in the spring, when the chance of disease transmission is the greatest.
It also allows FWP to issue elk kill permits to landowners through May 15.
The measures are meant to prevent elk and cattle from commingling in an area where brucellosis has been detected.
Brucellosis is a disease that can cause cattle to abort their calves. It is believed to be transferred when cattle come in contact with birthing material from an infected elk.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
