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Vet urges vaccines for cattle near Turner ranchBOZEMAN, Mont. (AP)--The state veterinarian is urging ranchers with cattle near Ted Turner's Flying D Ranch to vaccinate their herds against anthrax after 257 of Turner's bison died of exposure to naturally occurring bacteria. Veterinarian Marty Zaluski says horses are at a lower risk than cattle, but neighbors of Turner's 113,000-acre Bozeman-area ranch might want to vaccinate them, too. He said the vaccine, a weakened version of anthrax bacteria, is effective and lasts for about six months. Zaluski said one new anthrax case has been discovered in a bull on property adjacent to Turner's, while a deer within the quarantined area also fell ill. Zaluski said neighboring ranchers should keep an eye out for classic anthrax signs in their livestock, such as labored breathing, fever, staggering, depression, unconsciousness and convulsions. Untreated animals may die within 24 to 48 hours of exposure. "If you end up having an unexplained death in this area in the next few weeks, call a vet," he said. Flying D Ranch manager Russ Miller warned those who may hunt in the area later this fall to watch for signs of anthrax in dead animals. "It's probably not a good idea to cut the antlers off," Miller said. Carcasses of animals that died of anthrax are highly contagious and the disease can be transmitted to humans. The anthrax bacteria can lie dormant in the soil for decades and become active when heavy rains follow drought. 8/25/08 Date: 8/20/08
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