DERBY — Vermont Fish and Wildlife officials are saying that if they are unable to recapture the 16 elk that have been on the run since escaping their pasture in Derby last weekend, they may have to be shot.
The animals are posing a risk to people and a disease risk to other wildlife in the area, they say.
The primary threat to the public is that they could wander onto a highway and be hit by a vehicle. Although a much lower risk, the animals could also introduce chronic wasting disease into Vermont’s deer population.
State officials have been working with owner Doug Nelson to recapture the animals. They have already been spotted several miles from their enclosure near the Cow Palace in Derby.
Officials have not set a specific time limit to recapturing the elk before resorting to other measures, which includes the possibility of shooting them, but say that bringing them back alive is still their primary goal.
At this time there is no indication any of the elk have crossed into Canada, however, they have been spotted close to the border a few times.
Come on, they might wander into the road? What about the thousands of deer that do that every year? Are you going to shoot all of them as well? And chronic wasting disease? They animals were farm raised and in good health. Otherwise they would not have been allowed to keep them. For a green and animal positive state, this view point is sad at best. Get your act together. Put the word out I am sure there are plenty of people who would be willing to help with a rescue project.
Every effort sure be made to round up the animals. Every resident in the area should volunteer to help in the round up. These animal face extinction if not helped now. Please help in any way you can.
Ridiculous! Flashback to the sad story of Pete the Moose….