April 8, 2020 10:00 a.m.

Veterinarians with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently confirmed the presence of elk hoof disease for the first time in Douglas County.
An ODFW release said officials are asking the public to report limping or lame elk.
The release said a hunter harvested adult cow elk seen limping in the Indigo Unit east of Sutherlin tested positive for Treponeme Associated Hoof Disease, which is often referred to as elk hoof disease.
It’s the first known elk to test positive in the county and is the southern-most location of a confirmed case in Oregon. Two more elk from that herd that had also been observed limping are currently being tested, and another elk from north of Oakland, also in the county, has tested positive for TAHD.
The release said TAHD is a bacterial-associated syndrome, and elk with the disease can have deformed, overgrown, broken, or sloughed hooves. The lesions can be painful and cause limping or lameness when walking.
Elk that show these signs do not necessarily have TAHD as there are many other diseases or injuries that can cause similar abnormalities to elk hooves. ODFW is asking that the public use an online form to report limping elk or those with visibly abnormal hooves: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/health_program/elk_hoof_disease/. Residents can also call the Wildlife Health Lab at 1-866-968-2600.
The release said it is still unknown how the disease is spread but is believed to be maintained and/or transferred in moist soil via the hooves of inflected elk and potentially other wildlife or domestic livestock.
The meat of elk with TAHD is safe to eat as the bacteria does not infect the meat or organs of the animal. However, it is still important to follow proper meat handling guidelines.