Deer, Elk In Wash. Struggling After Harsh Winter

SPOKANE, WA - State wildlife officials are taking action to protect nutritionally-deprived deer and elk in Eastern Washington after a particularly harsh winter. In addition, at least one case of elk hoof disease has been confirmed in the Blue Mountains.

In Southeast Washington, several wildlife areas have been closed to the public to prevent the deer and elk from being disturbed.

"The 2019 winter has been more severe than normal in February and elk and deer are at the lowest end of their nutritional state. It is thought that the fall drought, lack of fall green up, and the dry summer may have resulted in elk being in poorer than normal condition entering the winter. Elk and deer have been documented dying of starvation in places in southeast Washington. Reducing any further stress from disturbance will be important to maximize survival."

The 4-O Ranch, Grouse Flats, Weatherly Unit, Shumaker Unit, and all Asotin Creek WLA units south of the North Fork of Asotin Creek will be closed to human activity until April, according to state officials.

At the end of February, state officials confirmed that a cow elk shot in the Blue Mountains had elk hoof disease. The disease has been spreading across the state since the early 2000s, and last spring was detected in Klickitat County, the first case to cross east over the Cascades. The disease causes hoof deformities, which can become infected.