|
|
Jackson area bison vaccinations might begin this winterJACKSON, Wyo. (AP)--State wildlife managers are contemplating giving a brucellosis vaccine to a small number of Jackson Hole bison this winter. Brucellosis can cause animals to lose their fetuses and can spread to cattle. Part of a new Wyoming Game and Fish Department brucellosis management plan would include inoculating bison with RB-51, a vaccine that has shown mixed results in testing. Game and Fish brucellosis biologist John Henningsen said recently that wildlife managers would watch vaccination efforts in Yellowstone National Park before starting a program in Jackson Hole. "We're probably not going to implement it on a full scale right away," he said. But he said biologists were considering a small, experimental program in Jackson Hole this year. He said biologists hadn't decided on the details of such an operation. Game and Fish Regional Wildlife Supervisor Bernie Holz said any vaccinations implemented this winter would be delivered by syringe dart, not a "bio-bullet" or through a capture and hand-inoculation program like previous efforts in Yellowstone. Holz said syringes probably wouldn't work on a large scale. "How many syringes would we be able to recover?" he said. Holz also said gathering meaningful data from a Jackson Hole bison vaccination program this winter might be difficult. The new brucellosis plan also outlines efforts to prevent bison from spreading the disease to cattle. So far, bison and cattle intermingling hasn't been a major issue in Jackson Hole because bison prefer to graze in Grand Teton National Park and on the National Elk Refuge. 1/7/08 Date: 1/2/08
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2012. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
