By Margaret A. Wild
Most of you who receive this research update are very familiar with elk hoof disease. But our social science research has shown that most people that live beyond the areas of high elk hoof disease prevalence have never heard of the disease. Raising awareness about elk hoof disease and its impacts is important for wildlife conservation. It can also improve disease surveillance by letting people know that elk with abnormal hooves should be reported, particularly in areas where the disease has not previously been confirmed.
Recently, we had the opportunity to participate with two national media venues to share the word about elk hoof disease.
In September 2024, an episode of Meateater’s Cal in the Field featured the disease and our research. The episode can be viewed on YouTube where it has received over 191,000 views to date.
On January 27, 2025, our research was the subject of a Vortex Nation Podcast. The podcast (episode 376) can be viewed on YouTube or listened to via your favorite podcast platform (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, PodBean, etc.).
We are grateful to Ryan Callaghan with Cal in the Field and Mark Boardman with Vortex Nation and their staff for their interest in our research and helping share science-based information about the disease. Ryan and Mark raised great questions and shared thoughtful perspectives. Even if you’ve been following our updates, you’re likely to learn something new and have more thoughts to consider after these episodes.
Margaret A. Wild, DVM, PhD
Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology
margaret.wild@wsu.edu