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An
elk of unknown origin in eastern Iowa was shot Saturday afternoon to protect
the Iowa deer herd and domestic livestock from the potential impacts of chronic
wasting disease and other diseases.
The
bull elk had been spotted in various locations in Dubuque and Jackson counties
since it first appeared on a trail camera by Cascade in October.
Sightings
of elk that had escaped from a captive herd are fairly common in Iowa and when
an elk is spotted, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) works with the Iowa
Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) to determine status of elk and
the best available options. If the elk can be returned to the proper owners,
then they are. If not, they then pose a risk to spreading CWD and/or other
diseases and are dispatched. Captive producers from the area did not report
they were missing any animals.
The
bull elk was killed Saturday afternoon by the Iowa DNR. The animal was examined
for identification markings and was found with notches in its ears, consistent
with the animal being part of a captive herd.
The lymph nodes were removed for testing.
While
the risk that escapees are introducing CWD or TB to Iowa’s wild deer may be
small, the consequence to the resource is enormous and it is a risk that should
be avoided.
Removing
a wandering elk is the responsibility of the Iowa DNR working in conjunction
with the IDALS, and is not allowed by the public.
Media Contact: Curt Kemmerer, Wildlife Biologist, Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, 563-357-2035.
The 2017 Iowa deer harvest is running more than 5 percent ahead
of the 2016 totals. So far this fall, 90,955 deer have been reported, compared
to 86,506 for the same period last year.
Iowa’s final deer hunting seasons – the late muzzleloader season
and archery season - conclude on Jan. 10, 2018.
AMES – The Iowa Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry - Fire Program, in cooperation with US Forest
Service - State and Private Forestry, has awarded $224,799 in 50% cost-share
grants to 92 of Iowa’s rural fire departments to aid
their efforts in protecting Iowan’s and their property from wildfires.
The grants offer valuable funding assistance for wildfire suppression
equipment, personal protective equipment, and communications equipment.
A full list of the fire departments that received the 2017
Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants can be found here.
The VFA program is authorized by
the 1990 Farm Bill to provide financial, technical, and other assistance
through state forestry agencies to organize, equip, and train small, local fire
departments in rural communities with populations under 10,000 to prevent and
suppress rural fires. Work contributes to healthy forests, forest stewardship,
and sustainable economic development. VFA dollars may be used to fund
multi-community/fire department projects such as mutual-aid communications
networks.
The DNR reminds all fire departments of the importance of
submitting Wildland Fire Reports whenever they respond to a wildland fire or provide
assistance to a prescribed or controlled wildland fire. Wildland Fire
reporting forms are available at www.iowadnr.gov/fire. Departments
actively returning these reports receive priority points when the VFA grant
applications are scored. These wildland fire reports are compiled locally
and nationally and are reported to Congress.
Media Contact: Gail Kantak, Wildland Fire Supervisor, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 515-233-8067, Gail.Kantak@dnr.iowa.gov.
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