Pittsville Elk Farmer Concerned About Wisconsin's Elk Plan
Thursday, January 22nd, 2015 -- 8:34 AM
(AP) -A farmer in central Wisconsin is voicing concern that a plan to move 150 elk to the state could also bring in disease.Officials earlier this month announced a deal with Kentucky to capture its elk and send them to Wisconsin in the next five years, after making sure they're healthy.
News-Herald Media reports Pittsville elk farmer Ray Stauner says Wisconsin shouldn't go through with the plan without live-animal testing for chronic wasting disease. The fatal illness turned up in Wisconsin in 2002.
Chronic wasting disease has not been found in deer and elk in Kentucky, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A message left with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was not immediately returned.
Wisconsin has one elk herd of about 160 that live near Clam Lake in Ashland County.
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