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Utah’s domesticated elk program at ‘critical juncture’ due to disease, state says

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Utah’s domesticated elk program at ‘critical juncture’ due to disease, state says


An elk is pictured bugling on this Sept. 13, 2017, photograph. Utah agricultural leaders say power losing illness amongst home herds has them questioning the way forward for the state’s home elk program. (Utah Division of Wildlife Sources)

Estimated learn time: 5-6 minutes

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s domesticated elk program is in peril due to a rising risk of power losing illness traced to an outbreak in Utah and Canada, state agriculture officers warn.

The scenario is extreme sufficient that Craig Buttars, commissioner of the Utah Division of Agriculture and Meals, is asking for the Utah Legislature’s Pure Sources, Agriculture and Atmosphere Interim Committee to evaluation this system to see if it is value persevering with and, in that case, what steps ought to be taken to maintain this system afloat.

“I have been accused of making an attempt to close this program down, our state vet has been accused of making an attempt to close this program down — our concern is just not and our intent is to not shut this system down however beneath present rules and guidelines, we have now come to some extent the place we are able to now not function a viable domesticated elk program right here within the state,” Buttars instructed members of the committee throughout a listening to Wednesday morning.

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Utah’s domesticated elk program turned 25 years outdated this 12 months, created via the Domesticated Elk Act that the Utah Legislature handed in 1997. The laws paved the best way for accredited Utah farms to lift elk basically in the identical means another livestock can be dealt with, together with being harvested for meat, pelt and antlers. Mature bulls will also be offered for searching on personal property.

There are at the moment 36 farms, hunt parks and zoos accredited beneath this program throughout the state, in accordance with the Utah Division of Agriculture and Meals.

However Buttars stated its success hinges on stopping power losing illness, a transmissible illness that impacts the nervous techniques of deer, elk and moose. The illness, which is 100% deadly in contaminated creatures, causes mind lesions and different points earlier than the creature ultimately dies. It is thought-about “comparatively uncommon” however has circulated round Utah wildlife since at the very least 2002, in accordance with the Utah Division of Wildlife Sources.

It is a illness that may solely be found after the animal dies, which makes it troublesome to stop. There have been a bit of over 100 confirmed circumstances in Utah wildlife over the previous 20 years.

The issue, Buttars explains, is that there are a rising variety of circumstances rising amongst Utah farms and related farms in Canada, that are possible the supply of Utah’s circumstances.

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Farms in Canada have equipped almost 90% of the home elk imported into Utah since 2017, in accordance with division knowledge. Buttars wrote in an adjoining memo {that a} unfold of power losing illness in Canada and Utah has this system at a “important juncture,” inflicting a quarantine at Utah farms and an incapacity to import Canadian elk.

“Alberta, Canada, is quickly being overrun with (power losing illness) and that is making it troublesome to seek out herds that qualify for entry into the state,” he instructed the committee, noting that the Canadian authorities knowledgeable the state they’re conscious of 12 herds that examined optimistic for the illness since 2017 and had been solely in a position to verify two of these farms did not ship elk to the U.S.

“Which means that (there have been) 10 optimistic herds possible imported in Utah and we had been solely notified about two earlier this 12 months,” Butters added. “Our animal well being employees was in a position to decide the identification of 1 different herd primarily based on animal IDs offered however we nonetheless have seven unknown and certain optimistic farms which have imported (the illness) into Utah.”

And the shortcoming to check for the illness in stay animals places the division in a “troublesome spot,” he concluded.

Although the 36 farms and hunt parks are required to be fenced off from wild herds, Rep. Carl Albrecht, R-Richfield, expressed concern that Utah’s home circumstances might attain wild herds. Dr. Dean Taylor, the Utah state veterinarian, clarified there are circumstances of the illness already out within the wild herd but it surely is not “uniformly all through the state at this level.”

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Taylor additionally stated throughout the assembly that, in 2020, the state depopulated about 700 animals, discovering one confirmed case. However because the illness’s incubation interval ranges from 18 months to 7 years, he stated there might have been extra contaminated. So a 1 out of 700 charge, he stated, can be thought-about “deceptive.”

The division is simply beginning to do related exams following the latest details about circumstances in Canada. Nevertheless, if the state continues to import elk from Canada, he believes the danger will solely enhance. This is the reason the division is requesting the Pure Sources, Agriculture and Atmosphere Interim Committee to evaluation if the Legislature believes this system is value persevering with.

In the event that they consider it is value holding round, it asks if the state ought to proceed permitting in elk from Canada or if adjustments ought to be made to extend entry to elk. It additionally requested the committee to evaluation if the U.S. Division of Agriculture ought to take management of the state’s herd certification program, if testing necessities from farms and hunt parks ought to be alerted or if amenities with confirmed illness circumstances ought to proceed as farms.

It is quite a bit to contemplate as a result of even a pause of this system might put a few of the 36 farms out of enterprise, Buttars stated.

“We’re most likely at a brand new crossroads (and) we have to relook at some issues,” stated Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton.

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In the meantime, business specialists who attended Wednesday’s assembly expressed assist to find options to maintain this system going past 25 years, even when it means discovering new areas to import elk from due to the considerations with the illnesses.

Steve Stieler, representing the North American Elk Breeders Affiliation, stated that home breeders share a priority with defending wild herds, as nicely. All of this is the reason elk breeders wish to assist because the state opinions the way forward for this system due to what’s at stake.

“There are some actual folks, actual households that care about this final result,” he stated. “They rely upon this for his or her livelihood.”

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Carter Williams is an award-winning reporter who covers common information, outside, historical past and sports activities for KSL.com. He beforehand labored for the Deseret Information. He’s a Utah transplant by the best way of Rochester, New York.

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Utah

Utah's Ski Season Has Begun!

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Utah's Ski Season Has Begun!


Utah The Utah ski industry isn’t usually the first in North America to open. However, two Utah ski resorts are already open in early November.

Solitude Mountain Resort was the first to open in Utah, as their season kicked off at 9 a.m. local time. Solitude Mountain has opened up the Link chairlift for skiing and riding. Easy Street will be the only trail open off the chairlift. Solitude parks crew has also been busy, adding 7-8 features on the trail. Solitude will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this weekend, with lift tickets costing only $25. Solitude will then close back down to continue working on their early season snowmaking efforts.

However, Solitude wasn’t the only ski resort that open today. At 10 a.m. local time, Brian Head Resort opened up for the season. They’ve opened up the Paradise Strip, Freemont, and Easy Time trails, which are serviced by the Navajo Expres chairlift. This is Brian Head’s second-earliest opening, with the earliest ever being November 4, 2022. Brian Head plans to remain open daily until May 4th.

Brighton is likely the next ski resort to open. Yesterday, the Utah ski resort announced that they’re opening next Thursday, November 14th. The Majestic and Explorer chairlifts will be spinning, and snowmaking has commeneced on the terrain around Crest 6 to get that part of the mountain operational soon.

It’s a good start so far for Utah, but let’s hope they keep getting snow so they can get the steeper terrain open.

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Image/Video Credits: Brian Head Resort, Solitude Mountain Resort, Brighton Resort (@flanellifestyles)

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Utah

San Antonio hosts Utah in conference showdown

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San Antonio hosts Utah in conference showdown


Associated Press

Utah Jazz (1-7, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (4-5, 12th in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Saturday, 5 p.m. EST

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BOTTOM LINE: Western Conference foes San Antonio and Utah will play on Saturday.

San Antonio finished 22-60 overall, 14-37 in Western Conference play and 12-29 at home during the 2023-24 season. The Spurs averaged 112.1 points per game last season, 51.4 in the paint, 15.4 off of turnovers and 15.6 on fast breaks.

Utah went 31-51 overall and 16-36 in Western Conference play during the 2023-24 season. The Jazz averaged 115.7 points per game last season, 18.8 from the free-throw line and 38.7 from deep.

INJURIES: Spurs: Devin Vassell: out (foot), Tre Jones: out (ankle), Jeremy Sochan: out (thumb).

Jazz: Taylor Hendricks: out for season (fibula).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




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Utah

Dylan Holloway returns to Blues’ lineup against Utah after taking puck to the neck

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San Antonio hosts Utah in conference showdown


Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway returned to the lineup Thursday night against Utah in the team’s first game since he was taken to the hospital after getting hit in the neck with a puck.

Holloway participated in the Blues’ morning skate at Enterprise Center and declared he felt good to return, and coach Drew Bannister put him in the starting lineup.

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“Talking to the doctor at the hospital, he said just no activity for 24 hours. But other than that, I’m fine,” Holloway said at morning skate. “All my tests came back good. There’s no further damage — nothing. It was kind of the best news I could get, and I feel like I’m ready to go.

Holloway was hurt late in the first period of St. Louis’ 3-2 victory on Tuesday night when he was struck by a puck off the stick of Tampa Bay’s Nicholas Paul. Play was stopped with 1:11 left in the period, and referees sent the teams to the locker rooms early after Holloway was taken from the bench area on a stretcher.

“It was definitely kind of crazy. I felt pretty fortunate. I had a Iot of people reach out to see if I was OK,” said Holloway, who signed with the Blues after appearing in the Stanley Cup final last season with Edmonton.

“I appreciate all the love and the support that I was getting. The team has been great, all the boys have been great, the coach has been great. I’m just thankful to have such a supportive group around me.”

Holloway said he felt dizzy and nauseous at the hospital but has had no other ill effects other than a bruise at the base of his neck.

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“I just want to go out there and kind of forget about it, put it in the past,” Holloway said. “I feel good and I’m just excited to get out there.”

Bannister said Holloway rode an exercise bike Wednesday and then “pushed himself hard” during the morning skate.

“He’s a worker. He has a high motor. The way we want to play, he dictates a lot of the play,” Bannister said. “He dictates a lot of the energy that happens on the bench and on the ice. He just works to get pucks back and he uses his speed. He does a lot of things really well and he’s fit in nicely.”

“Whether we’ve put him at center or put him at wing, he’s found a way to contribute to the team game and contribute on the scoreboard but also defensively.”

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl




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