Yellowstone Elk Test Negative For Brucellosis

Results from a recent study in the Pioneer Mountains of southwestern Montana show that none of the 100 elk sampled have been exposed to brucellosis. The findings are part of a multi-year study by Fish, Wildlife & Parks to evaluate the presence of brucellosis in elk in the Greater Yellowstone Area and improve understanding of herd movement and interaction. The study, which was funded by Fish, Wildlife & Parks and a grant from USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, was conducted in mid-January by Fish, Wildlife & Parks, which used helicopters and net guns to capture the elk for testing. Thirty of the elk were fitted with GPS collars to provide additional information about annual movement patterns in the area.  The study area was located in the southern and western Pioneers area, or Region 3, because it is adjacent to hunting districts where brucellosis has been found in elk in the past.  This time, Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials say, the group of elk tested remains brucellosis-free.