Brucellosis-infected elk are a major threat to
Wyoming’s economy, says Meeteetse-area rancher Martin Thomas.
Serious enough, he will argue in court, to warrant the
assault-rifle attack that left nine elk dead and lots of
wildlife-management questions unanswered (HCN,
3/3/97).
On March 31, Thomas pleaded not guilty
to charges that he illegally gunned down elk near his ranch. But he
also says the attack was warranted to protect his cattle against
brucellosis infection. His defense maintains that brucellosis, if
transmitted to livestock, could cause other states to restrict
imports from Wyoming and maim both the beef industry and state
economy. Thomas says the state has neglected its responsibility to
control wildlife, and now elk populations compete with livestock
for rangeland.
Killing game out of season and
without a permit is illegal, but that doesn’t mean Martin will be
convicted.
Says Alan Christianson of the Rocky
Mountain Elk Foundation, “Property rights and private property
concerns carry a lot of weight in the Western courts.”
– Emily
Miller
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Rancher shoots for test case.
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