Are these people serious?
A cow would have to dig up a den to contract brucellosis from a wolf. This is ridiculous.
Wyoming lawmakers want to test wolves for brucellosis
By MATT JOYCE Of The Associated Press
Ken Cole
Ken Cole is a 5th generation Idahoan, an avid fly fisherman, wildlife enthusiast, and photographer. He is the interim Idaho Director for Western Watersheds Project. We do not accept unsolicited “guest” authors or advertising.
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This makes as much sense as criminalizing dancing with chickens.
you got something against criminalizing dancing with chickens ?
My chickens might 😉
Yeah, I bet they want to test the heck out of them, right into extinction.
I am wondering, will they capture and hold the wolves they test until the result come back?
I always thought it was the other way around — cattle giving the disease to wildlife…….
Actually now a days, Cattle to wildlife transmission is not all that common….in the past yes…
As a kid who grew up in the 1950s, I have always agreed with quarantining sick animals, including humans. However, this Wildlife Service’s-type effort might be a stealthy ‘quarantine in perpetuity’…
The article says “studies” done elsewhere have been inconclusive about wolves transmitting to cattle. What studies? Anyone know?
I find the first paragraph extremely troubling:
“Wyoming lawmakers are working to link two of the Northern Rockies’ most difficult wildlife management issues: wolves and brucellosis.”
First, why are Wyoming lawmakers are “working” on a question that can (and should, IMO) be determined by scientists? Second, stating that they are “working to link…wolves and brucellosis” suggests the answer to this question (or at least the desired answer) has already been determined.
Is this science, Wyoming style?
Chuck,
You might want to take a look at this link:
http://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/content/full/40/1/60
This was a study done in Canada
And of course infamous, omni-present, “Marion” picks up the story eagerly and also offer some further proof…..all the outbrakes happend after the reintroduction….
But, on a more serious level now, this trick could work out fine. Look what is needed to to restrict the Bison to within the boundaries of Yellowstone zoo. An unproven theory could well be sufficient to provide a reason for lethal “wolf management”. And, if it works with wolves (of course always the primary enemy) why not apply it to all those other troublesome critters: mountain lions, bears, coyotes of course! Scientific proof is not needed, not even sought, it´s fully sufficient to put out a rumour! I think they just need to raised eybrows a toned down voice:”…..Just imagine, a cow grazes close to wolf scat…….
“This makes as much sense as criminalizing dancing with chickens.”
I don’t know about dancing WITH chickens, but I’m a strong advocate of criminalizing the Chicken Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UV3kRV46Zs .
🙂
Manifest destiny works in mysterious ways…
Too bad survival of the fittest doesn’t seem to apply in the state governments of ID, MT, and WY.
Perhaps a sort of “culling” is in order, especially when it is revealed to the world that they have a terrible disease that threatens all life on earth!
People jokingly call Boulder, Colorado “The Republic of Boulder” (as they seem to make their own laws); how ’bout renaming Wyoming as well — “The Republic of Wyoming”
The Wyoming state legislature is and always has been, full of ranchers and they have called the shots in Wyoming for way too long. And, obviously, they consider themselves smarter than the scientists as well.
I think we should test Wyoming lawmakers for brucellosis, instead.
Jim, LOL!!!
Yeah I guess if load up a syringe with Brucellosis and inject that into a wolf the wolf will produce some antibodies. As a second study, we should perform the same test jim proposes – the WYO legislature.
How about testing it Marion…and the guy from Stanley …
I am sorry.Could not resist.
Not much threat of transmission from wolves to cattle shown in this study.
Save bears Says:
February 24, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Chuck,
You might want to take a look at this link:
http://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/content/full/40/1/60
This was a study done in Canada
Brucellosis is the livestock industry’s favorite disease. It is used to accomplish all kinds of objectives of theirs.
Okay, so now the wolves?…What’s next? Coyotes, foxes, mule deer, whitetail deer, pronghorns, moose? Are there any wildlife species in the GYA not in jeopardy being targeted by the brucellosis madness anymore?
Oh, and let’s not forget about those brucellosis infected Jack-A-Lopes too! The Wyoming legislature probably believes in them too!! heehee
Jim, I think the Wyoming and Montana legislators should be tested for brucellosis and must avoid contact with cattle, elk, wolves, etc. at all times. 🙂 And Ralph, you make a good point as well. It is used to accomplish anything they want.
I guess I can’t badmouth Idaho so much any more if Wyoming is doing that. 🙂
Who knows maybe even Big Foot spreads brucellosis.
Another case of wanting something then trying to prove it.
No, according to this, big foot recently disappeared from Yellowstone … maybe the DOL already got’em.
http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s2i46967
Remember, there is no minimum entry level requirement to be a legislator anywhere in the US except US citizenship. You do not even have to be a high school graduate…and, to the best of my knowledge, prior incarceration in a mental institution is not a barrier either.