[Mike]

Hi from Phoenix
This is a continuing SAD situation. Elk, long hornsheep massive
numbers of marine life, gosh there is plenty of information right
here and I don’t think we have caught all the breaking news with
regards to the decline of nature, plus not to forget our own
declining health.

Who, pray tell, will begin to connect the dots?
Best to all,
Bridget
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2005/08/19/news/wyoming/493
83f9d6d498b5c872570620054a13f.txt

Billings horse sales postponed because of infectious disease
By The Associated Press

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — An outbreak of infectious vesicular
stomatitis in Montana and Wyoming has prompted postponement of two
horse sales planned here, officials said Thursday.

The Billings Livestock Horse Sales had been planned later yet this
month and in September.

BLS President Pat Goggins of Billings said he consulted
veterinarians in Montana and other states before deciding to delay
the sales until the disease has passed.

“We feel that at this time, with the vector season in full swing, no
consignment horse sales should be held, period,” Goggins said. He
also owns PAYS Auction Yards in Billings. All the horse sales are
held at BLS.
Saliva and fluids from an infected animal can infect other
livestock. Flies also are suspected carriers. That’s why the BLS
horse sales will be postponed until a good fly-killing frost occurs.

Sale managers Bill and Jann Parker said they sell nearly 8,000
horses per year.

“As the largest horse sale in the West, while it may be costly to us
to postpone our events, it will be beneficial to you, our consignors
and our buyers, to have the confidence in the health and safety of
your animals,” Parker said.

VS cases have also been documented in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and
Arizona. Texas had cases earlier this summer.

“We just feel that it is in the best interest of the industry to
take a lead on this,” Jann Parker said. “And we hope others will
follow.”

BLS’ three-day sale starting Oct. 28 and the sale at the end of
November will be held as scheduled and expanded to accommodate the
two summer sales being postponed.

In Wyoming, horses and a cow appear to be infected with VS. In
Montana, VS has been confirmed in horses in five areas around Laurel
and Billings in Yellowstone County.

Results from blood tests from animals in 19 other areas are pending,
said State Veterinarian Tom Linfield of the Department of Livestock.

VS is a close relative to the hoof-and-mouth disease. The symptoms
of excessive drooling and severe lesions on noses, in mouths and
around the hooves are identical between VS and hoof-and-mouth. The
federal Department of Agriculture requires suspected outbreaks of VS
to be reported by livestock owners and veterinarians.

VS also can be contracted by goats, sheep, pigs, alpacas and llamas
but is rarely fatal, although VS can cause severe weight loss
because the mouth sores make eating and drinking painful. In humans,
it can cause a flu-like illness.

Animals arriving for state fairs in both Montana and Wyoming have
been visually inspected for VS symptoms.