Multiple bacteria cause elk hoof disease in the Pacific Northwest

Elk hoof disease in the Pacific Northwest is caused by multiple bacteria working together, not a single pathogen. Researchers found Treponema and Mycoplasma bacteria consistently present in diseased elk hooves, suggesting a collaborative role in causing painful lesions and lameness. The disease, first seen in the late 1990s, has spread across several states, impacting elk mobility and increasing their vulnerability.