Bovine tuberculosis was previously found in cattle at a farm just north of Laurel
(Laurel, Ind.) – A deer and wildlife removal program is set to take place in Franklin County after bovine tuberculosis was found at a farm just north of Laurel.
The Brookville Democrat-American reports that federal government sharpshooters will kill up to 150 deer and other wildlife in a 1.5-mile radius around Farm C. The farm is located north of Laurel and west of Indiana 121.
After about an 18-month period of testing conclude this past August, infected cattle at the farm were removed to prevent further spreading of the disease.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the removal program will take about three weeks and is designed to decrease bovine TB exposure to nearby livestock.
USDA Wildlife Services staff are trained to remove wildlife from the property for disease testing. Collected deer will have tissue samples removed and sent back to a USDA lab for analysis.
Deer meat that receives negative test results will go to food charities.