Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

I had some thoughts and questions about the recent Brucellosis issue in Montana.

I was really wondering if the seven cows that tested positive were vaccinated for brucellosis? This was the case in Wyoming when they originally discovered cattle near the park had Brucellosis. It was in all ready vaccinated cattle. Yesterday evening I had the answer to this question delivered to me so it was a question no more. I've heard a little more about the situation from the proverbial horse's mouth. My source of information informs me that the cattle that tested positive were vaccinated against brucellosis. So this leads to another question, why the hell do we bother to vaccinate if the vaccine isn't very effective? I realize that there are quite a few people in Montana that don't vaccinate but there are a lot of people, including me, who do. Why do we bother if apparently the vaccine has a failure rate of 35%? Something to think about.

Another question, why is it necessary to destroy the whole herd of cattle for a few cows testing positive? This doesn't make a lot of sense. When they originally eradicated brucellosis in the state they took blood sample from all the cows and only destroyed those that tested positive or tested suspect twice. Why can't they do that here? Why not bleed all the cows and only destroy those who test positive? Wouldn't this make more sense than randomly destroying all the cows for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time? It sure would to me. The government doesn't look at it that way though. Killing them all is just easier. They are going to destroy this whole herd of cattle and the owner more than likely will get no compensation for it. They vaccinate their cattle for brucellosis and still will have to sacrifice them to the all powerful government because it is easier on them. This should change.

The cattle that tested positive for brucellosis had been in the Paradise Valley near Emigrant. According to the information I've heard, the cattle were a lot closer to Yellowstone National Park than Emigrant so it sounds to me like the reservoir of brucellosis infection that is Yellowstone National Park is more than likely to blame for this little outbreak we are now having. Whether this infection comes from the bison or the elk, I don't care. The problem is the reservoir of infection that is allowed to exist in the Greater Yellowstone Area. I don't have an answer on how to clear up the brucellosis problem in the park. Between the elk and the bison in the area, there are too many wild animals spread over too large of area to control. Ignoring the problem of the brucellosis infection in the Park will not make it go away. It just prolongs the problem and costs people like the ranchers who cattle are going to be destroyed a lot of money and heartache.

Question everything. Maria Mitchell

This is hilarious. Sad, but hilarious and I wonder how many other people found this inconsistency.

Freudenthal to Idaho: Ban game farms

In the wake of domestic elk escaping from an Idaho game farm, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal is asking the neighboring state to ban game farms and to help enact a communication system among the two states and Montana.

In a letter dated Thursday, Freudenthal thanked Idaho Gov. Jim Risch for the actions he took calling for a hunt on the escaped elk, and for the state notifying Wyoming.

Freudenthal said Wyoming banned game ranching 30 years ago "because of the obvious risks to wildlife and, further, to avoid situations like the one at Conant Creek from happening."

"We still firmly believe the ramifications of such operations to legitimate hunting recreation, and disease transmission -- including brucellosis -- to wildlife and domestic livestock, is not in the public interest," the Democrat wrote. "I'm hopeful that as a result of this regrettable development, that Idaho will consider implementing similar restrictive measures against game ranching and related high fence shooting operations."

So, the Governor of Wyoming wants Idaho to ban game farms because, among other things, the danger of Brucellosis transmission to domestic critters is too high.

EXCUSE ME GOV. FREUDENTHAL, YOU CONTINUE TO SPREAD BRUCELLOSIS AMONG ELK IN YOUR STATE ON THE FEEDING GROUNDS YOU SUPPORT AND ENDANGER YOUR STATES, AND OTHERS, BRUCELLOSIS FREE STATUS BY DOING SO. HOW DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING IDAHO DOES WHEN YOU ARE THE MAIN PROBLEM IN THE REGION WHEN IT COMES TO BRUCELLOSIS.

I always find hypocrisy like this funny, maddening but funny. Here Wyoming is just relaxing Brucellosis restrictions from their Brucellosis wreck and are now blaming other states. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Wyoming needs to get its own house in order before they start running around telling other people what to do with theirs.

As for a personal comment on game farms in Idaho. I have no problem with game farms. Montanans outlawed them by initiative a few years ago but if Idaho wants to have them, fine. The game farm in question where the elk got loose was not being run in accordance with Idaho law so the owner is getting what he deserves and ought to be financially responsible for the mess he is creating. As long as sufficient protections exists for wildlife it's fine. There could always be a problem, but with the proper safeguards they are minimal.

Democracy is hypocrisy without limitation. Iskander Mirza

Now blame My Darling Wife for no pictures, I was driving and she was so captivated by what we saw that the camera was the last thing on her mind. We were going to Billings yesterday morning and was two miles west of Hardin on the interstate, in the area called the bench, and there were two bull elk grazing along side the interstate. I know there has been more and more elk in the area every year but to see them in that flat open country around Hardin was quite a sight.

Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away. Marcus Aurelius

I see that the Governor of Wyoming doesn't care that elk have Brucellosis in Wyoming and are spreading it throughout the area, Montana and Idaho. The Ranchers in Wyoming really need to consider how Gov. Dave Freudenthal is not supporting their industry come election time.

What I don't understand is he wants to save the elk for tourism but kill the wolves. Like it or not the wolves would bring in as much, if not more, tourism dollars as the elk but all the Governor wants to do is shoot the wolves on sight while destroy the elk herds with diseases. Maybe some long term thinking would be a little more useful here instead of short-sighted political calculation.

Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating that Wyoming should let wolves run all over the place, I am just pointing out the inconsistency of their arguments. It tourism dollars are so important, let the wolves in gladly, it will bring in more tourism dollars.

Hypocrisy is the essence of snobbery, but all snobbery is about the problem of belonging. Alexander Theroux

Wyo. Game department finds more brucellosis on feedgrounds

A survey by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department suggests that 14 percent of the elk wintering on the National Elk Refuge near Jackson have been exposed to brucellosis, a far higher rate than in areas where the state doesn't feed elk during the winter.

Duh!!! I could have told you that would be the case without all the testing but I understand they needed the information in hand to prove to the people that think feeding the elk is such a wonderful thing that there is a problem with it. Whether this information will do any good to close the feedgrounds down will have to be seen.

Information, usually seen as the precondition of debate, is better understood as its by-product. Christopher Lasch