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Dead, dying elk mystery to agents
Associated Press

RAWLINS, Wyo. - Poison and disease are being considered in the mysterious deaths of at least 200 elk southwest of here.

Two affected elk were found by hunters earlier this month, and the Game and Fish Department has since discovered dozens of dead and dying elk by combing the Red Rim Wildlife Habitat Management Area on foot, four wheelers and by airplane.

At least another 100 elk were found over the weekend.

All have similar symptoms, particularly the inability to move. Many elk were found alive but had to be shot after authorities were told they would not recover, game warden Benge Brown said.

"They are alert, but they just have no strength," said Kent Schmidlin, Lander region wildlife supervisor. "When we find them, they are lying down on the ground but they can't get up, almost like they are paralyzed in their lower extremities."

A veterinarian, toxicologist and pathologist are analyzing about 10 of the carcasses to determine what caused their death. Poison, disease and other factors are being explored, with preliminary results expected early next week.

An area water well was also being tested, Brown said.

The elk were otherwise in good condition and there was no evidence they were harassed or run to exhaustion. Mother Nature can't be blamed either.

"It's a pretty light winter out there," Schmidlin said.

A nearby herd of about 600 elk appears to be unaffected, he said.

"Right now, we are asking folks to stay out of the area so we can do our investigation and find out what is killing these elk," said Joe Nemick, the region's lead wildlife biologist.

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