JACKSON -- In the wake of domestic elk escaping from an Idaho game farm, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal is asking the neighboring state to ban game farms and to help enact a communication system among the two states and Montana.

In a letter dated Thursday, Freudenthal thanked Idaho Gov. Jim Risch for the actions he took calling for a hunt on the escaped elk, and for the state notifying Wyoming.

Freudenthal said Wyoming banned game ranching 30 years ago "because of the obvious risks to wildlife and, further, to avoid situations like the one at Conant Creek from happening."

"We still firmly believe the ramifications of such operations to legitimate hunting recreation, and disease transmission -- including brucellosis -- to wildlife and domestic livestock, is not in the public interest," the Democrat wrote. "I'm hopeful that as a result of this regrettable development, that Idaho will consider implementing similar restrictive measures against game ranching and related high fence shooting operations."

Freudenthal also suggested developing a protocol to notify each state when "actions or events in our respective jurisdictions -- from whatever source -- pose a threat to wildlife or domestic livestock in an adjoining state." The concern about domestic elk is that they could transmit disease to wild elk and harm their genetics.

In a statement released by Risch's office, the Republican governor said he would "take the lead" in developing a notification plan. Risch did not address Freudenthal's request to ban game farms, instead saying only, "Governor Freudenthal has expressed to me his concern about the impact escaped domestic elk could have on wild elk herds. Both Wyoming and Montana have taken action to prevent a similar situation that occurred at this private facility in Idaho by banning canned hunts and in Montana, they strictly regulate the operations of elk farming."

The Idaho governor previously said he favors a ban on shooter bull operations, where game farm operators charge thousands of dollars for individuals to shoot big game animals within fenced enclosures. Risch is also reported to favor licensing game farms and not allowing additional game farm operations in Idaho.

Although Freudenthal began his letter -- and Risch titled his news release -- with a reference to a game farm elk being reportedly killed by a Wyoming hunter, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Friday said no game farm elk have been killed or seen in Wyoming. A news report last week out of Boise referenced Jim Unsworth, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's wildlife bureau chief, saying one of the game farm elk was believed killed in Wyoming.

Eric Keszler, spokesman for Wyoming Game and Fish, said the agency had an elk last week with an ear tag, and officials were suspicious the animal could have been from the game farm. Since, it has been confirmed the animal was a wild elk, its ear tag from a feedground. He said no game farm elk have been killed or seen in Wyoming.

Earlier this summer, elk from a game farm escaped on a ranch near Ashton, Idaho, not far from the Wyoming border. In his letter, Freudenthal said the news of the escape "initially sent shivers down the spines of our wildlife managers," and the prognosis now is "anything but bright."

"What's more, our public is not very understanding of how this escape could have gone undetected for so long, and the circumstances that allowed the owner to continue to operate this facility given his history of non-compliance with governing statutes and regulations."

Environmental reporter Whitney Royster can be reached at (307) 734-0260 or at royster@tribcsp.com.