FWP seeks comments on bovine tuberculosis surveillance plan

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is requesting public review and comment on the Proposed Montana Bovine Tuberculosis Surveillance Plan. Supporting information can be found on the FWP website under “Opportunity for Public Comment” at fwp.mt.gov/hunting/ .

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). Bovine TB is primarily a disease of cattle but can affect many other species of mammals. The disease can spill over from livestock to wildlife, which can then serve as a reservoir, potentially transmitting the disease to other uninfected wildlife, cattle and, in some cases, humans. States with bTB cases in cattle and/or wildlife experience significant negative economic impacts on the livestock industry and are subject to increased regulation and requirements for interstate movement of livestock.

M. bovis infection typically causes chronic, progressive disease in cervids. There are no documented cases of bTB causing cervid population declines. The impacts of aggressive management in endemic areas often have a much greater impact on deer survival than mortality resulting from this chronic disease. The primary motives for surveillance and early detection of bTB in wildlife include the potential for wildlife species to serve as a reservoir for transmission to cattle, the major economic consequences to the cattle industry that would come with loss of bTB-free status, the potential for human health impacts, decreased tolerance for infected wild cervid populations on the landscape, and the major expense and aggressive nature of managing the disease once established in wild populations.

If bTB were to become endemic in wildlife populations, the cost of management would drastically increase and the likelihood of eradicating the disease would decrease. The goals of FWP’s current bTB Surveillance Plan include preventing spillover of the disease to wildlife, early detection to prevent the disease from becoming endemic in wildlife and preparing to respond if needed.

For further clarification or additional materials, please call the Wildlife Division office at 406-444-2612 or send an email to fwpwld@mt.gov. Comments will be accepted online by using the links below, by email and in writing sent to FWP Wildlife, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701. Public comment will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Nov. 18, with final adoption at either the December 2019 or February 2020 Commission Meeting.