Reporter's Notes

Fall Creek elk

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department held a public meeting to present the Brucellosis Management Action Plan for the Fall Creek elk herd unit on Wednesday, July 12, at 7 p.m. at the Teton County Public Library in Jackson. The Fall Creek elk herd unit encompasses the area south of Jackson, containing the South Park, Dog Creek, Horse Creek and Camp Creek winter elk feedgrounds.

This plan was designed to identify what livestock producers and wildlife managers can do to reduce brucellosis transmission among wildlife and from wildlife to livestock. Biologists worked closely with local livestock producers and federal agencies to develop the recommendations outlined in these plans.

Nine options are presented in the BMAP to minimize brucellosis transmission risk. The pros and cons of each of these options willbe presented, as well as the management options that Wyoming Game and Fish Department will pursue.

The Fall Creek BMAP is a final document. The purpose of the meeting is to inform the public of what efforts are planned to reduce the risk of brucellosis transmission between elk and cattle, and from elk to elk. While WG&F officials will be on hand to answer any questions and concerns the public may have, formal public comment will not be recorded at the meeting.

The Brucellosis Coordination Team outlined the BMAP process as a critical step for preventing brucellosis transmission from elk to cattleand regaining the state’s brucellosis free status. Brucellosis transmitted to cattle herds from elk caused Wyoming to lose its brucellosis free status in 2004.

BSE

Canada’s bovine spongiform encephalopathy surveillance program confirmed a new case of the disease in a cross-bred beef cow in Manitoba. The animal was at least 15 years of age and was born prior to the 1997 introduction of Canada’s feed ban. Canadian officials reported that no part of the animal entered the human food or animal feed systems.

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford said in a statement that although Canadian officials invited the United States to participate in the epidemiologic investigation, “Based on our confidence of the food safety measures in place in Canada and our previous audits of their system, we have determined that it is not necessary to send any U.S. experts to participate in the epidemiologic investigation at this time.

“We will review the information gathered through Canada’s epidemiological investigation but it is important to note that we have anticipated that there may be additional detections of BSE in Canada,” Clifford said. “These additional finds have already been factored into our current beef trading relationship with Canada and we do not expect that this latest case would cause any disruption to our trade in beef or beef products from Canada.”

Jim Fire

The Jim Fire was detected on July 2 in the Bridger-Wilderness, approximately 24-miles north of Pinedale in the Jim Creek Lake area. This fire was lightning-caused and approximately one acre in size when detected.

This fire is being managed to accomplish objectives outlined in the Bridger Wilderness Fire Management Plan and Bridger-Teton National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, which allow lightning-caused fires to burn within the forest under strict management conditions and guidelines. Expected benefits from this fire include removal of accumulated ground fuels, improvement of wildlife habitat and fire regime condition class, and maintenance of natural plant succession, all of which are fire-dependant within the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The Jim Fire will be routinely monitored by air and by ground, and fire management actions will be taken as determined necessary.

There is no area closure associated with the Jim Fire at this time; however, the Jim Creek/Pot Creek areas may be subject to closure at any time depending upon fire behavior. Visitors choosing to enter this area doso at their own risk.

Please contact the Pinedale Ranger District if you plan to travel in this area or if you have any questions regarding the Jim Fire at 307-367-4326.