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CLEAR Temp: 62 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, June 5, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 12, 2003 No wasting disease found in region’s elk Tests on hundreds of elk in Oregon and Washington had negative results By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune There remains no sign yet of the deadly chronic wasting disease among the Pacific Northwest’s wild elk populations, and biologists are happy with their negative results so far. Tests on more than 670 wild elk from Oregon turned up no sign of the agent causing CWD, an incurable disease afflicting wild or farmed elk in 14 states and Canadian provinces where they threaten wild populations. Similar tests on 785 Washington elk also were negative, and both results pose a positive reaction from biologists hoping to keep it that way. "Getting told, ‘No, you don’t,’ is good," said Ron Anglin, wildlife division administrator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Advertisement Anglin said he did not expect any positive results from the samples, which were collected from elk shot by hunters last fall and winter. "But you never know," Anglin said Friday. "Some of the other states were not expecting to see it either, and they did." The agency announced its findings Friday during the monthly Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting in Portland. CWD attacks the brain and leads to massive weight loss and eventual death. It has never been detected in Oregon. Along with the hunter-killed elk, another 166 samples from late hunts and vehicle-killed deer and elk also are being tested. Results are due in the next few weeks, ODFW spokeswoman Anne Pressentin Young said. From 1995 to 2001, which was before the outbreaks in other states, the ODFW tested 111 deer and elk; none tested positive for the CWD agent. The tests were done by Colorado State University, which has one of only a handful of labs certified for CWD testing, Anglin said. The tests, which cost anywhere from $30-$50, were paid for by the federal government. Anglin said his agency expects to collect more samples next fall and winter. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times