Don't eat anesthetized elk: New NC rule would forbid picking up elk carcasses
A new state rule close to adoption would forbid people from picking up elk they find dead on roadways or other places.
The rule, in part, is to prevent them from accidentally eating one of the large animals − which roam a part of Western North Carolina − after it was dosed with anesthesia.
"Sometimes elk are darted with a tranquilizer for research purposes such as putting GPS collars on them," said Brad Stanback WNC's District 9 representative on the state Wildlife Resources Commission. The commission voted to approve the rule Feb. 23, though it must still go through the General Assembly's Rules Review Commission this spring. If approved it would become effective in June.
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The proposed amendment would require people to get authorization from the commission to "possess or transport elk that are killed accidentally or found dead," wildlife resources staff said in a report to the commission.
The main justification is that commission biologists need to sample the carcasses to determine the reason for death. Chronic Wasting Disease has been creeping into the state and is a concern. It is fatal to deer, elk and moose.
Elk, which can grow up to 5 feet all and weigh up to 700 pounds, were hunted to near-extinction in the 1700s in North Carolina. In the early 2000s, the National Park Service reintroduced the cud-chewing ruminants to the Haywood County area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and there are now about 200 living in the area.
"Given the size of elk, the proximity to traffic, and the possibility of elk having anesthesia drugs in their system it is generally inappropriate for the public to retrieve dead elk and possibly consume them without contacting agency staff," wildlife resources personnel said in the report.
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There is no hunting season for the elk, but landowners whose property is being damaged by the animals can kill them and, if they get a permit first, can keep the carcass, said Stanback.
In terms of tranquilization, elk sometimes move a good distance before becoming immobile, the commission member said.
"In rare cases, the elk might not be immediately found by Wildlife Resources Commission or National Park Service researchers and someone else could find it first. It’s also possible that a tranquilized elk could try to cross a road and be more likely to get hit by a vehicle. So what could look like a clear case of a roadkill elk could in fact be a side effect of the tranquilizer," he said.
Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: North Carolina: Don't eat anesthetized elk; new rule on elk carcasses
