FWP working with the Department of Livestock following the detection of bovine tuberculosis in Blaine County

To assist in monitoring bovine tuberculosis, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is looking to deer hunters in Blaine and Phillips counties for help.

In September, bovine tuberculosis (bTB) was discovered in a herd of cattle in northern Blaine County and then later in Phillips County. Bovine TB is a contagious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis and primarily affects cattle. The disease can be transmitted to nearly any mammal, including humans. The Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) is the lead agency for the investigation into this finding and any epidemiologically linked cattle herds. To date, bTB has not been detected in any additional cattle herds or in wildlife in the area.

However, testing harvested deer within the general area can help determine if the disease is in wildlife and, if so, what the distribution might be. FWP is the lead agency for wildlife surveillance and needs the assistance of deer hunters (see map for surveillance area). Wildlife surveillance will be conducted in portions of both Blaine and Phillips counties, due to the use of pasture ground in Phillips County by the affected cattle herd.