Animals from a domestic elk ranch in Penrose that must be slaughtered because of chronic wasting disease will be disposed of in the Phantom Landfill north of Florence. But the Fremont County Commissioners took action Thursday to make sure no animals confirmed to have CWD will be buried there. Twin Landfill Manager Gary Fuselier informed the County Commissioners of the plan last week. Fuselier said the plan by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is to begin slaughtering 350 head of elk from Ron Walker's elk ranch at Penrose which were earlier confirmed to have been infected by chronic wasting disease. The only method federal officials have used to control the spread of CWD in domestic herds is to order the slaughter of all animals.
Once Fuselier learned of the plan he informed County officials. Commissioner Mike Stiehl then made a number of contacts this week with the Colorado Department of Public Health, the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the State Veterinarian, and the CSU lab in Fort Collins to verify the proper procedures are being followed.
At a special meeting of the Fremont County Commissioners Thursday afternoon the Board adopted a list of conditions which will assure citizens that any elk confirmed to be carrying CWD will not be buried at Phantom Landfill. Fuselier said the U.S.D.A.'s plan is start the process next Tuesday at Walker's Penrose ranch where the elk will first be sedated. The animals will then be loaded in a trailer and taken to the landfill where they will be euthanized. Agriculture Department officials will then supervise the identification of each elk carcass and remove the head of each animal while the landfill will cover the elk bodies with plastic for up to 48 hours. The elk heads will then be taken to Fort Collins where lab tests will determine if the animal was infected with chronic wasting. If CWD is confirmed the body of the entire animal will then be removed to Fort Collins for disposal. Elk confirmed not to be infected with CWD will then to be buried in the Phantom Landfill under disposal guidelines also outlined in the conditions approved by the County Commissioners.
Commissioner Stiehl noted that Phantom Landfill's conditional use permit already allows the company to bury dead animals. But Stiehl said the Commissioners appreciate Fuselier's extra efforts in contacting the County to make sure the CWD diseased elk were properly handled.
Once Fuselier learned of the plan he informed County officials. Commissioner Mike Stiehl then made a number of contacts this week with the Colorado Department of Public Health, the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the State Veterinarian, and the CSU lab in Fort Collins to verify the proper procedures are being followed.
At a special meeting of the Fremont County Commissioners Thursday afternoon the Board adopted a list of conditions which will assure citizens that any elk confirmed to be carrying CWD will not be buried at Phantom Landfill. Fuselier said the U.S.D.A.'s plan is start the process next Tuesday at Walker's Penrose ranch where the elk will first be sedated. The animals will then be loaded in a trailer and taken to the landfill where they will be euthanized. Agriculture Department officials will then supervise the identification of each elk carcass and remove the head of each animal while the landfill will cover the elk bodies with plastic for up to 48 hours. The elk heads will then be taken to Fort Collins where lab tests will determine if the animal was infected with chronic wasting. If CWD is confirmed the body of the entire animal will then be removed to Fort Collins for disposal. Elk confirmed not to be infected with CWD will then to be buried in the Phantom Landfill under disposal guidelines also outlined in the conditions approved by the County Commissioners.
Commissioner Stiehl noted that Phantom Landfill's conditional use permit already allows the company to bury dead animals. But Stiehl said the Commissioners appreciate Fuselier's extra efforts in contacting the County to make sure the CWD diseased elk were properly handled.