Anthrax kills wildlife near Turner's ranch Naturally occurring anthrax has killed two deer and is likely responsible for the deaths of 14 elk in drainages near Ted Turner's ranch, where more than 250 domestic bison died of the disease last month, state wildlife officials said. The animals probably became ill after coming into contact with anthrax spores in the soil that had been dormant for years, said Neil Anderson, wildlife lab supervisor for the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. State veterinary officials suspect anthrax killed the elk, but the carcasses were spotted from the air and the cause of the deaths hasn't been confirmed. State veterinarian Mary Zaluski said the outbreak seems to be slowing, likely due to cooler weather, which sends anthrax back into dormancy, and ranchers who are vaccinating and providing antibiotics to herds....