抖阴ap

COLLBRAN, Colo.—State officials have lifted a quarantine on a western Colorado hunting ranch where a contagious disease was found among wild hogs being shipped in and on the ranch.

The quarantine was imposed Nov. 25 on the Little Creek Ranch in Collbran after 14 of 16 feral hogs being trucked tested positive for pseudorabies, a virus that affects livestock and can spread to wildlife and domestic pets. The disease was also found in the feral hogs on the ranch.

All the hogs, including more than 70 on the ranch, were killed. Federal and state officials inspected the ranch Christmas Eve.

State agriculture and wildlife officials say the ranch is under orders to kill any hogs on the grounds or adjacent public land. State Division of Wildlife spokesman Tyler Baskfield said feral hogs have been found on public land in the area, but it’s unclear where they came from.

Shipment of the 16 hogs and 20 exotic sheep to the ranch Nov. 16 is under investigation. State officials have said the driver didn’t have the required permits.

The state bans the importation and possession of feral pigs in most cases, but Little Creek was allowed to ship in a limited number because its wild boar operation was in place before the ban was imposed.

All 50 states are considered free of the pseudorabies virus in commercial production swine herds. Colorado agriculture officials said the state’s livestock industry isn’t at risk.