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Investigation continues into Mesa County psuedorabies caseColorado A quarantine on Little Creek Ranch in Collbran remains in place while an investigation by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado Division of Wildlife continues concerning disease issues and transportation of exotic hogs and sheep. Meanwhile, an important step has been completed in the case. The quarantine order follows the Nov. 17 seizure by state wildlife and agriculture officials of a livestock trailer containing 20 exotic sheep and 16 feral hogs as it was about to enter the Little Creek Ranch. The exotic hogs are illegal to possess or transport in Colorado and the driver did not have required permits for importation or transportation of any of the animals. The livestock were quarantined in an isolated building at the Garfield County Fairgrounds. Fourteen of the 16 hogs tested positive for pseudorabies, a disease that poses threats to livestock, wildlife and pets. All of the exotic hogs seized have been euthanized in order to prevent the spread of the disease. The sheep have returned under seal to Texas, which was their state of origin. The building where the seized animals were held has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Testing of hogs already on the Little Creek Ranch has begun and determined that some of the hogs are positive for pseudorabies. With the discovery of a positive test result, further testing of hogs on the ranch is unnecessary as all are potentially exposed. Ranch managers have reached an agreement with the state that calls for all hogs on the ranch to be euthanized by the ranch owner. Hog carcasses are to be inspected by officials with the DOW or CDA and then transported under seal to a disposal site. The quarantine orders remain in effect until officials can verify that no hogs remain and that any other deficiencies are addressed. Pseudorabies is a contagious viral disease of animals that primarily affects pigs. However, the disease is also a threat to domestic pets and to wildlife, such as raccoons, opossums, fox, skunks and small rodents, which can contract the disease by coming in contact with infected swine. Currently, all 50 states are considered free of the pseudorabies virus in commercial production swine herds. This detection in feral hogs does not jeopardize that status. Colorado and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have pseudorabies eradication programs in place. The Department of Agriculture, the Division of Wildlife and USDA Veterinary Services are working cooperatively on this matter. The DOW quarantine order for the Little Creek Ranch specifies that no animals, alive or dead, may be removed from or enter the ranch until further notice. The Little Creek Ranch is a DOW licensed commercial wildlife park subject to strict rules for the importation of exotic wildlife species. Because the ranch's wild boar hunting operation existed prior to state regulations banning importation or possession of wild boar and feral hogs, it was 'grandfathered in' with an exemption allowing for a limited number of wild boars on the property. Strict animal health and fencing requirements were dictated as part of the licensing process. The investigation into the transportation and possession of the animals in the trailer and the inspection of the ranch facility's animal health paperwork and fencing is continuing. The establishment of feral hog populations has become a major concern for state wildlife agencies across the country. Packs of these hogs can devastate wildlife habitat by rooting up areas of ground and destroying native vegetation. Diseases from the wild hogs can also be passed to wildlife species, impacting populations and spreading throughout an area. In Colorado, feral hogs have been confirmed in the southeastern part of the state. Feral hogs have also been killed by landowners and wildlife officers on the Grand Mesa, near Collbran. In response, the Division of Wildlife and the Colorado Department of Agriculture have signed a memorandum of understanding to coordinate efforts to eradicate these feral populations. The Division of Wildlife considers feral hogs to be an invasive pest. State wildlife regulations allow the killing of feral hogs at any time of year and without need of a hunting license. 12/22/08 Date: 12/17/08 Advertisement
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