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Wonder if the wildlife could be suseptable to something like this?
Bison dead of anthrax at Ted Turner's ranch
By JENNIFER McKEE Missoulian State Bureau
HELENA - More than two dozen domestic bison owned by media mogul Ted Turner have died of naturally occurring anthrax on Turner's Flying D Ranch in Gallatin County.
Their bodies either are going to be burned or buried soon, said Steve Merritt, a spokesman for the Montana Department of Livestock.
The first animals died over the weekend, Merritt said. An analysis of their tissues at the state laboratory in Helena confirmed Thursday the animals had anthrax.
Since then, 25 of the bison have died.
Anthrax, caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, occurs naturally in Montana and many other locations worldwide. As part of their life cycle, the bacteria can enter a spore phase and remain viable, although dormant, for decades in soil. Later, under certain circumstances, the bacteria emerge from the spore phase and cause disease.
Animals typically get anthrax from eating activated spores in soil as they graze, or drinking them in water, Merritt said. The disease kills quickly, typically within 24 or 48 hours.
Anthrax outbreaks are not uncommon; Montana last experienced anthrax in 2007, when eight domestic cattle came down with the disease in Sheridan County. Saskatchewan and North Dakota also have experienced outbreaks this year.
Montana livestock officials believe the outbreak has been contained. The land has been quarantined.
Protocols require the bodies of anthrax-killed cattle to either be burned or buried. Merritt said he didn't know how Turner's ranch managers will dispose of the bison carcasses, but added that a mobile incineration unit was en route to the Flying D.
Anthrax has gained notoriety in recent years as a possible biological weapon in terrorist attacks. However, natural outbreaks such as this one are generally quickly contained, pose no threat to people or the food supply, livestock officials say.
In rare cases, people working with infected animals or their hides can become sick with anthrax. However, Montana has not experienced a human infection of anthrax since 1961. Merritt said there is no indication that the current outbreak poses any threat to humans.
While these infections involved domestic bison, all animals grazing in places with activated anthrax spores are equally likely to contract the illness, Merritt said.
“It could have been a pet dog or cat,” he said. “These spores can just sit there and wait for the right environmental conditions.”
Livestock officials praised ranch managers for their cooperation with state authorities in the outbreak.
Marty Zaluski, the Montana state veterinarian, said he does not recommend ranchers vaccinate their cattle against anthrax because of the outbreak.
Bison dead of anthrax at Ted Turner's ranch
By JENNIFER McKEE Missoulian State Bureau
HELENA - More than two dozen domestic bison owned by media mogul Ted Turner have died of naturally occurring anthrax on Turner's Flying D Ranch in Gallatin County.
Their bodies either are going to be burned or buried soon, said Steve Merritt, a spokesman for the Montana Department of Livestock.
The first animals died over the weekend, Merritt said. An analysis of their tissues at the state laboratory in Helena confirmed Thursday the animals had anthrax.
Since then, 25 of the bison have died.
Anthrax, caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, occurs naturally in Montana and many other locations worldwide. As part of their life cycle, the bacteria can enter a spore phase and remain viable, although dormant, for decades in soil. Later, under certain circumstances, the bacteria emerge from the spore phase and cause disease.
Animals typically get anthrax from eating activated spores in soil as they graze, or drinking them in water, Merritt said. The disease kills quickly, typically within 24 or 48 hours.
Anthrax outbreaks are not uncommon; Montana last experienced anthrax in 2007, when eight domestic cattle came down with the disease in Sheridan County. Saskatchewan and North Dakota also have experienced outbreaks this year.
Montana livestock officials believe the outbreak has been contained. The land has been quarantined.
Protocols require the bodies of anthrax-killed cattle to either be burned or buried. Merritt said he didn't know how Turner's ranch managers will dispose of the bison carcasses, but added that a mobile incineration unit was en route to the Flying D.
Anthrax has gained notoriety in recent years as a possible biological weapon in terrorist attacks. However, natural outbreaks such as this one are generally quickly contained, pose no threat to people or the food supply, livestock officials say.
In rare cases, people working with infected animals or their hides can become sick with anthrax. However, Montana has not experienced a human infection of anthrax since 1961. Merritt said there is no indication that the current outbreak poses any threat to humans.
While these infections involved domestic bison, all animals grazing in places with activated anthrax spores are equally likely to contract the illness, Merritt said.
“It could have been a pet dog or cat,” he said. “These spores can just sit there and wait for the right environmental conditions.”
Livestock officials praised ranch managers for their cooperation with state authorities in the outbreak.
Marty Zaluski, the Montana state veterinarian, said he does not recommend ranchers vaccinate their cattle against anthrax because of the outbreak.
