ESCAPED DOMESTIC ELK KILLED IN WYOMING

BOISE – Governor Jim Risch received notification yesterday from Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal that a hunter in western Wyoming had harvested an escaped domestic elk. Risch had notified the governors of Wyoming and Montana, along with the park superintendents of Teton and Yellowstone National Park last month of the domestic elk escape from a private facility near Conant Creek area near Ashton.

“Governor Freudenthal has expressed to me his concern about the impact escaped domestic elk could have on wild elk herds. Both Wyoming and Montana have taken action to prevent a similar situation that occurred at this private facility in Idaho by banning canned hunts and in Montana, they strictly regulate the operations of elk farming,” said Risch.

Freudenthal recommended to Risch that a protocol be developed that would enhance the communication if a future threat to wildlife or domestic livestock develops.

Risch said he would take the lead on developing such a plan. “I think this is an excellent idea and I have committed to both the Governor of Montana and Wyoming that I would take the lead in the development of a protocol, since Idaho currently has domestic elk operations near its borders. As long as Idaho allows these types of operations we need to be a good neighbor and have a communications and damage control plan in place,” Risch said.

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