NWT, Canada: Bison killed by natural anthrax outbreak- 429 dead

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.torontosun.com/2012/07/06...thrax-outbreak

Bison killed by natural anthrax outbreak
By JACKIE L. LARSON ,Edmonton Sun
Updated: Friday, July 06, 2012 05:18 PM EDT


EDMONTON - A research team has concluded 128 bison, whose remains were found this week in the Northwest Territories, were killed by an outbreak of anthrax spores, a naturally occurring phenomenon.

The decaying carcasses, spread over an area of 10 square kilometres northwest of Fort Providence, were spotted on a routine surveillance flight on July 3...

[Pathfinder]

Re: NWT, Canada: Bison killed by natural anthrax outbreak

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%; HEIGHT: 100%" id=ctl00_CPH2_WPM_wp1440859946_wp233639944_tableVi ew><TBODY><TR><TD>Media Advisory: 23 More Bison Carcasses Found Near Fort Providence
Created: 2012 Jul 10


</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 100%"><TD><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD style="WHITE-SPACE: normal" vAlign=top>YELLOWKNIFE (July 9, 2012) ? Twenty-three more bison carcasses have been found near Fort Providence.

Fourteen carcasses were found near Caen Lake about 40 kilometres north of the community; five at the Deh Cho Bridge construction site; two near Moose Prairie; and, two along Highway 3, north of the community. No additional carcasses have been found at Mills Lake. Total number of bison carcasses found to date is 151.

All carcasses are being treated as per Environment and Natural Resources? (ENR) normal protocol for disposal, which includes chemical sterilant and fire.

An Incident Command Team is in Fort Providence oversee the disposal of all bison carcasses found in the area. Disposal teams began burning some of the carcasses during the weekend.

Lab results from samples of carcasses found in the Mills Lake are expected to be received from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency next week.

A reconnaissance flight of the area is planned for Wednesday, July 11.
People are advised not to approach or touch bison carcasses. Anyone who discovers a carcass is asked to notify ENR as soon as possible.

http://www.enr.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/whats_new.aspx?nid=321

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[Emily]

Re: NWT, Canada: Bison killed by natural anthrax outbreak

Cooler weather and rain are suspected as a factor.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/articl...ritories-bison

Anthrax outbreak largest ever for Northwest Territories bison
CBC News | Aug 05, 2012
Wildlife officials in Canada's Northwest Territories now say the anthrax outbreak among bison is the largest they've seen in the territory.

So far approximately 340 bison have died. The last big outbreak in 1994 affected 172 animals...

[Shiloh]

Re: NWT, Canada: Bison killed by natural anthrax outbreak- 429 dead

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/...-outbreak.html


N.W.T. bison anthrax death toll rises
429 carcasses found to date between Fort Providence and Behchoko
CBC News
Posted: Aug 8, 2012 12:58 PM CT
Last Updated: Aug 8, 2012 2:13 PM CT

The number of bison dead from anthrax in the N.W.T. is now at 429.

Tony Vermillion, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources? manager of wildlife and environment for the South Slave region, said he doesn't think the latest bison carcasses are from a new outbreak ? they're simply deaths they didn't find in earlier searches...