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Ruby Valley ag appreciation banquet scheduled
The Greater Ruby Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture
announces its Annual Ag Appreciation Banquet, designed to recognize
and thank those involved in agriculture in the area. The banquet
will be held on Saturday, Oct. 11 in Ruby Valley Aviation's plane
hangar at the Twin Bridges Airport.
New for this year is entertainment provided by the Vigilante
Theatre Company performing "Radio Montana," a musical
comedy about small town Montana.
Cocktails will be available from 5 to 6 pm, followed by Act One
of the theater company performance from 6 to 7 pm. During
intermission from 7 to 8 pm, Pitchfork Steak Catering will serve a
steak dinner. Act Two will follow the meal and will last about 45
minutes.
Tables for eight are available at $250.
Call Andrea Sarchet at the Extension Office at 287-3282 with
questions or email: asarcher@montana.edu.
Common sense precautions advised for hunters in
area of recent anthrax outbreak
With the recent deaths of nearly 300 domestic bison and some
free-ranging wildlife caused by naturally occurring anthrax bacteria
in southwestern Montana, some hunters have expressed concern about
pursuing game in the affected area.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Department of Public Health
and Human Services officials want all hunters to understand that
while human anthrax cases are extremely rare, normal precautions
should be taken by hunters.
"Anthrax is caused by a naturally occurring bacteria that can
lie dormant in the ground for decades, then become active under
ideal soil and weather conditions," said FWP spokesman Ron
Aasheim, in Helena. "It’s a seasonal disease, occurring in
late summer during periods of prolonged hot, dry weather after
flooding or heavy rains. This summer it has been particularly active
in a localized area with the confirmed domestic bison deaths in
portions of Gallatin and Madison counties in southwestern Montana.
In addition, anthrax has been confirmed in the deaths of white
tailed deer and elk and is suspected in the death of a black bear in
the vicinity of the outbreak."
Aasheim said the affected area is on private and adjacent Gallatin
National Forest lands in the north portion of hunting district 311.
The area encompasses the Cherry Creek, Spanish Creek, and Elk Creek
drainages, from the Spanish Peaks north to U.S. Highway 84.
Aasheim noted that not all wildlife will show obvious signs of being
sick during the pursuit, field dressing, skinning or butchering
process.
"The risk of a hunter being infected with anthrax is very
low," said Dr. Kammy Johnson at the Montana Department of
Public Health and Human Services. "The small risk can be
further minimized by taking common sense precautions that all
hunters should follow."
Those precautions include:
- Do not harvest animals that appear ill or are acting
abnormally.
- Wear rubber (latex) gloves when field dressing game
- Minimize contact with animal fluids, brain and spinal
tissues.
- Wash hands and instruments thoroughly after field dressing
or processing.
- Cook all meat until well done before consuming.
"All hunters should adopt these precautions wherever and
whenever they are hunting," Johnson said.
As the outbreak appears to be ongoing, Aasheim said hunters who are
concerned about even the minimal risk of exposure may want to choose
a different area to hunt until cold weather arrives or snow covers
the ground.
DPHHS FWP Fact Sheet; Questions & Answers; Hunters and Anthrax Common
Sense Precautions When Handling Wild Game
A naturally occurring outbreak of anthrax in domestic bison and
in wildlife has been occurring in portions of Gallatin and Madison
counties since July. The area, located in the North portion of
hunting district 311,encompasses the Cherry Creek, Spanish Creek,
and Elk Creek drainages, from the Spanish Peaks north to U.S.
Highway 84.
The risk of human infection with anthrax in the outdoors, and the
risk of harvesting a wild animal with an anthrax infection, is very
low.
To further minimize the risk of exposure to anthrax bacteria,
hunters should follow the precautions described below. All hunters
should follow these precautions to minimize their risks for an
unlikely exposure to other diseases including leptospirosis,
brucellosis and chronic wasting disease (CWD), as well as anthrax.
Q: What is anthrax?
A: Anthrax is caused by a bacteria. The bacteria can lie
dormant in the ground for decades, then become active under ideal
soil and weather conditions. Naturally occurring outbreaks of
anthrax in grazing animals are not uncommon during late summer. This
outbreak involves multiple species.
Q: Which animals have been infected during the current naturally
occurring outbreak?
A: During the current naturally occurring outbreak, the most
affected animals have been domestic bison. Some deer and elk and one
bovine bull have also died of anthrax. Anthrax is suspected in the
death of a black bear.
Q: What is the risk for hunters?
A: The risk of a hunter being infected with anthrax is very
low. Taking common sense precautions while hunting can minimize the
risk.
Q: What precautions should be taken?
A: Hunters should be aware that not all wildlife will show
obvious signs of being sick during the pursuit, field dressing,
skinning or butchering process. The following common sense
precautions will minimize the risk of being exposed to anthrax
bacteria:
- If hunters encounter dead elk, deer, bison, or livestock
with no obvious cause of death: do not handle the animal; do
not approach the animal; note the location and report it to
the nearest FWP office.
- Do not harvest animals that appear ill or are acting
abnormally.
- When field dressing and butchering a harvested animal,
follow the procedures recommended by DPHHS and FWP for all
big game and birds.
Q: What procedures are recommended by DPHHS and FWP for field
dressing and processing harvested animals?
A: DPHHS & FWP recommends:
- Wear latex or rubber gloves when field dressing deer, elk,
or other wild animals.
- Minimize contact with animal fluids, brain and spinal
tissues.
- Wash hands and instruments thoroughly after field dressing
and processing.
- Cook all meat until well done before consuming.
For more information on anthrax, visit the Montana Department of
Public Health and Human Services website at dphhs.mt.gov.
Click "Precautions for Hunters," listed under
"Featured Topics." Or call 406-444-0273
- DPHHS -
For more information hunters, taxidermists and meat processors can
visit the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
website at dphhs.mt.gov.
Click "Precautions for Hunters," listed under
"Featured Topics." Individuals may also call the DPHHS at
406-444-0273.
[ email news to:
linda@rubyvalley.com ]
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