April 9, 2005
I
have just returned from the Friday/Oriskany and Saturday/Westmorland meetings
on Chronic Wasting Disease, CWD. The meetings were very informative
and were well worth attending. Howie Cushing and Wally John were also
there from the NYSCC along with about 100 people each day. The presentations
lasted for about an hour each day and then questions were answered along with
comments from many people for about 2 hours.
Stephen
Litwhiler, Public Affairs, Watertown Office DEC opened both meetings with
a short statement as to what the program would encompass and introduced the
members of the panel.
Dr.
Bryan Cherry, NY State Department of Health
Dr.
John Huntley, NY State Dept. of Agriculture
James
Farquhar, Senior Wildlife Biologist NYSDEC Region 6
Gerald
Barnhardt, Division Director of State Wildlife and Marine Resources
They
announced that there were three more confirmed cases of CWD in the first herd
for a total of four and one previously announced in the second herd for an over
all total of five deer infected. It also has been determined that the
Palmer farm besides raising deer also does deer rehabilitation that has
released those deer out into the wild. It also was stated by an individual
that he has sold urine and scents, the DEC was not aware of that, and
that he is also a taxidermist. The Agriculture department said
that the domestic herd bookkeeping was intact and up to date. There are
also 7-8 more herds being tested due to deer being transferred from the
original herd. Other than that they said they could not comment due to the
ongoing investigation.
The
power point presentation that was presented is on the websites:
www.dec.state.ny.us
and www.agmkt.state.ny
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/deer/cwdslide40805.pdf
I
will not cover the presentation because it can be found there in its
entirety. It explains what CWD is, its causes and effects. Also: how
domestic herds are certified and the differences between farm and shooting
preserves and how they are regulated. They also said that a new gateway
has been opened effective Friday.
It
was said that feces and urine seem to be one of the most likely transmitters of
the disease along with deer to deer contact, saliva and excrements.
Questions and comments concerning the causes and consequences of CWD:
Why
is there only a single fence around deer farms when deer to deer contact could
allow CWD to be transmitted that way? No definite answer other than one
eight-foot fence is the current regulation.
How
did they come up with the number of 420 deer to be tested from the wild deer?
Answer: By the estimated number of deer in the state and the deer take in the
previous season/ proportionally to be 99% sure.
What is
the DEC going to do to get the deer back up to current numbers after
that? Answer: lower permits and deer take.
How
are deer segregated from domestic herds and rehab deer? Answer: a 30 foot
separation is required.
What
if a landowner does not want them to kill deer on their property? Answer:
They will do not do it there then.
What
area will they take the deer from? Answer: A 10 mile radius around the infected
farms which were about 4 miles apart therefore an oval circle. They also
said that most landowners were more than willing to help.
A
concern was raised as to the deer being taken and the chances of infecting deer
with the blood from those deer. Answer: The deer being collected have
already spread the spores during their normal daily routines and no more chance
of spreading the disease in that immediate area. However, deer will be
double bagged and shipped in a
container
to Rome, NY where the tests will be conducted. They do not want to
spread the disease in transport.
Once
the deer carcasses were tested what would be done with them? Answer: They would
be held in cold storage until the test results were back, if no CWD, they would
be put in landfills. If there was CWD confirmed the carcasses would be
sent to an incinerator to be destroyed because the temperature must reach 500
degrees Fahrenheit to destroy the proteins or prions.
How
long will the tests take? Answer: Approximately 7 - 10 days.
Why
couldn't the deer taken be used for feeding the hungry? Answer: The cost of
taking the deer so that it could be used for food would be more
prohibitive. They will not be gutted also to prevent spreading the
disease, which in whitetails is a big cause of the disease. The proteins or
prions reside there in concentrated forms due the physiology of whitetails.
Who
is paying the cost of the testing? Answer: The major concern is to get
the testing done as soon as possible and who pays for it will happen
later. Most of the cost will be shared between the various agencies.
Will
road kills be part of the 420 deer tested? Answer: Yes they will be used
especially in villages and the City of Rome. The more road kills the less
they will have to take by man hours.
Why
can't they wait until hunting season or at least until after the does have
dropped their fawns. Answer: Now is the best time before foliage comes out and
that they did not feel that the does carrying fawns would have an overall
impact on the population. They feel they have to answer that concern
immediately. Also if any of the does that are taken are infected this
would also eliminate the fawns from spreading the disease. The incubation
period is up to 30 -48 months.
What
deer will be targeted? Answer: Adult deer which are older than 1 1/2 years old due to the incubation
period. It is also believed that bucks are more susceptible to the
disease.
How
long will the testing continue and when? Answer: The testing will be for at
least 5 years if none is initially found in the wild. The first year the
teams will take the deer, after that they will rely on hunters more to have
deer tested until it has been determined that it is not out in the wild.
What
if it is found right away in the wild will the 420 deer still be taken?
Answer: If it is found in the wild, no they will stop when they
determine how wide spread it is and then they will go into a slow it down mode
from spreading.
There
were many other questions, but at this time until I can go back and listen to
my tapes of the meetings these seemed like the most important ones.
During
the meeting I brought up the question of scent and lure being brought in and
sold which could be a source of infection. I also asked about regulations
to sell only scent and urine from only certified CWD free states and
herds. They thought this would be a good idea, and that the DEC could
bring upon regulations within their power to this effect. There will be
more regulations to follow.
By Paul Stoos
Big Game Chairman