Elk being quarantined before release into Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Although elk cannot be found in Missouri, that could change in as little as 90 days. Officials for the state Department of Conservation, which has been engaged in a half-million-dollar effort to reintroduce elk to the state, said trappers finished capturing 46 elk in Kentucky that will make up the nucleus of Missouri's herd and that the animals will be kept in quarantine for 90 days, starting last week, to ensure their health. The animals are destined for Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties. Officials say the region's remote locale offers ample grazing opportunity. Those opposed to the project, including the Missouri Farm Bureau and some legislators, cite concerns that the animals could pose a threat to crops, spread animal disease and create road hazards.