Elk disease found in Eastern Washington. Animals to be killed

A crippling hoof disease has been found in Eastern Washington elk for the first time.

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife has had reports of elk hoof disease in Western Washington since 2008, with the disease spreading since then to elk in 11 counties on the west side of the Cascade Mountains.

The first cases on the east side of the Cascades were reported this month in Klickitat County, which borders Benton County. However, the cases were in the west end of the county near Trout Lake Valley.

The department plans to euthanize up to 20 elk with symptoms to try to stop the spread of the disease, as elk begin to disperse to summer grazing areas by the end of May.

The disease deforms the animals' hooves and they may walk with a limp. It appears to be highly infectious and may spread as elk leave bacteria in moist soil that other elk walk through.

Once the disease becomes established in an elk population, it is extremely difficult to manage, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

This story was originally published April 27, 2018 at 6:24 PM with the headline "Elk disease found in Eastern Washington. Animals to be killed."