ARTIFICIAL FEEDING CONFIRMED IN DEATHS OF FOUR ELK
Pennsylvania Game Commission officials recently reported that there have been four cases involving elk that have died or rumen acidosis, which is directly related to artificial feeding that causes an abrupt change in an elk's diet that wreaks havoc with its digestive system. Feeding elk is illegal, as it causes problems by habituating elk to find food around homes and can be dangerous to those who attempt to feed elk by hand.
"So far, we have been able to document four cases of such deaths," said Dr. Walter Cottrell, Game Commission wildlife veterinarian. "There have been other deaths that we believed may have been caused by such feeding, but, in those cases the animal was either decomposed or other circumstances prevented it from obtaining the carcass in time for laboratory analysis to take place."
Dr. Cottrell explained that elk, as well as white-tailed deer, adapt to a winter diet of primarily woody vegetation and they will die of acidosis caused by a build up of lactic acid in the rumen, chambers of its four-part stomach that is responsible for fermentation of food. If they consume too much high-fermentable grain, such as corn, which is the most common artificial feed put out by local residents, the pH level falls quickly and a shock-like syndrome can occur.
GAME COMMISSION SAYS LITTER CAUSING RISK TO WILDLIFE
Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers have been encountering more problems involving trash and wildlife, and are encouraging Pennsylvanians to be more thoughtful about disposing of their trash properly.
"Each year, wildlife rehabilitators are presented with wildlife, especially water birds, entangled in discarded fishing line, or skunks or raccoons with plastic containers stuck on their heads," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "Such refuse can prove problematic or deadly for wildlife, and we are encouraging all Pennsylvanians and visitors to Pennsylvania to make sure they 'trash their trash.'"
Earlier this year, a young male, white-tailed deer in Cumberland County was found dead with a clear, plastic jug over its head that once likely held pretzels or pickles. A resident that reported finding the dead deer on his property noted that it appeared that the animal had suffered from dehydration and malnutrition, but was able to breathe.
For more information on both of these topics, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=177019