Early every year, we prepare a report to the Washington State Legislature to share information about progress the Washington State University program has made on elk hoof disease research and outreach in the previous calendar year.
Elk treponeme-associated hoof disease, previously thought to be limited to deformations in elks’ hooves, appears to create molecular changes throughout the animal’s system, according to WSU epigenetic research.
A disease in elk that causes deformed hooves and eventually leads to lameness and death is also associated with abnormal, asymmetrical antlers, a WSU‑led study of hunter reports found.