BLOOD SELENIUM VALUES OF SELECTED WILDLIFE POPULATIONS IN WASHINGTON

The object of this study was to determine blood selenium (Se) values i n free ranging wild ungulates in Washington state. Blood was obtained from elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni, C. elaphus roosevelti) in the Blue, Cascade, and Olympic Mountain Ranges, the Department of Energy's Hanfo rd Site and the Yakama Indian Nation Reservation; California bighorn s heep (Ovis canadensis californiana) from the north Cascade Range and n ortheastern Washington, and moose (Alces alces shirasi) from the Mt. S pokane area were sampled. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) fro m the north shore of Lake Chelan were also sampled. When compared to a dequate livestock standard values (Se > 0.1 ppm, wet/weight) Blue Moun tain elk, Yakama Indian Nation Reservation elk, bighorn sheep, and mul e deer were marginally deficient (Se 0.05-0.09 ppm) whereas the moose sampled were deficient (Se < 0.05 ppm). Elk located on the Olympic Pen insula and Hanford Site exhibited Se values considered adequate. The r esults suggest blood Se levels vary among elk herds within the state w hile bighorn sheep, mule deer, and moose have generally low Se values when compared to domestic livestock with adequate values.