Interagency brucellosis meeting held in Idaho

The member agencies of the Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee held its tri-annual meeting Aug. 24 - 25 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The executive committee continued discussions on the group's memorandum of understanding and reaffirmed its commitment to adding a representative of the Intertribal Bison Cooperative to the committee as a non-voting member.

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 11-12, in Bozeman, Mont.

One topic of discussion was an update on the recent positive bovine brucellosis cases in Teton and Campbell counties, by Wyoming State Veterinarian Dr. Jim Logan. The implications for wildlife and the GYIBC were highlighted. Dr. Logan stated they had not yet determined a source for the infected cattle or a link to wildlife.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced it will begin testing elk in the Rochelle Hills area this fall for any exposure to brucellosis to see if there is a link to wildlife.

GYIBC Chairman Tom Linfield suggested a committee be formed to investigate and standardize methods of testing wildlife samples for brucellosis. It is important for each agency to know what the other member agencies in the GYIBC are doing as far as testing and research, Linfield said. The executive committee formed a sub-committee, where each member of the GYIBC has a representative, to further a cooperative brucellosis research effort.

The GYIBC is a multi-state and federal interagency effort to collectively identify and implement equitable solutions to concerns about brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Area while moving towards the elimination of the disease that is not native to wildlife.

The GYIBC is made up of representatives from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Idaho Department of Agriculture, Montana Department of Livestock, Wyoming Livestock Board, USDA Forest Service, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA Agricultural Research Service, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI National Park Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, USDI Geological Service.

It is the goal of the GYIBC to protect and sustain the existing free-ranging elk and bison populations in the GYA and protect the public interests and economic viability of the livestock industry in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.