ToddP
07-30-2002, 10:43 AM
Release #58-02
July 30, 2002
For Information Contact:
Jerry Feaser
717-705-6541 (ext. 3106)
PGCNEWS@state.pa.us
GAME COMMISSION TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT
STATE'S WILD AND CAPTIVE DEER AND ELK FROM CWD
HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Vern Ross today announced he has issued a temporary ban on the importation of all live cervids, such as deer and elk, into Pennsylvania to protect the state's wild and captive herds from becoming infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD). The ban will take effect Aug. 1, and will remain in effect until rescinded.
"We are fortunate to be able to assure the public that we currently have no confirmed or suspected cases of CWD in Pennsylvania's wild or captive cervid herds, and we want to see it stay that way," Ross said. ###"As the agency responsible to protect, manage and conserve the wildlife resources of this state, the Game Commission is committed to take all steps necessary to prevent the spread of CWD into Pennsylvania.
"However, the threat of CWD is growing, and there currently are more questions than answers about this disease. ###With that in mind, we don't believe there is any reason to postpone this commonsense and responsible action." ###
CWD has been detected in wild and captive herds of deer, elk and mule deer in several western states, Wisconsin and Canada. ###First identified in 1967, CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that affects cervids, including all species of deer, elk and moose. It is a progressive and always fatal disease of the nervous system afflicting wild and captive cervids. ###Scientists theorize CWD is caused by an unknown agent capable of transforming normal brain proteins into an abnormal form.
There currently is no reliable way to test live animals for CWD, nor is there a vaccine. ###Clinical signs include poor posture, lowered head and ears, uncoordinated movement, rough-hair coat, weight loss, increased thirst, excessive drooling, and, ultimately, death. ###There is no evidence so far of CWD having any affect on humans or other non-cervid livestock under normal conditions.
In Wisconsin, the first state east of the Mississippi River to have detected CWD in wild deer, hunters and wildlife managers are taking steps to kill thousands of deer in an attempt to head off the spread of CWD. ###Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum, in early May, called a special session of the legislature to address the CWD outbreak. ###One of the results of the special session was a measure to spend $4 million to test Wisconsin deer. ###In late May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Wisconsin $3.5 million in federal homeland security grants to improve its animal health infrastructure and combat Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). ###This is part of Wisconsin's request for $18.5 million in federal funding over the next three years.
Under state law, the Game Commission has the authority to issue permits and set regulations for Pennsylvania's nearly 700 deer propagators and 90 elk propagators. ###The agency estimates the state's wild deer herd population is more than one million, and the wild elk herd is nearly 800.
"CWD is a prime concern for all interested in wildlife management," said state Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Edward W. Helfrick. ###"I commend the Game Commission for taking prudent steps to ensure the health of our deer and elk herds."
"This is a drastic measure, but a necessary one, to protect our deer and elk, as well as our hunters," added state House Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Bruce Smith.
Ross stressed that if CWD reaches Pennsylvania, it would have devastating impacts, not only on the state's long and proud tradition of hunting, but on the state's economy as well. According to a 1998 study by the Center for Rural PA, hunting pumps $4.8 billion into Pennsylvania's economy, and more than 45,000 jobs in Pennsylvania are associated with hunting.
"The Game Commission worked with Penn State University veterinary officials to test for CWD and other diseases in the elk taken during the 2001 elk hunt," Ross said. ###"All test results were negative.
"For the coming elk hunting season, we will continue to test all elk taken by hunters, and we will train our deer aging teams who visit meat processors to collect a significant random sample from hunter-killed deer during the 2002 rifle deer season for CWD testing."
These precautions aside, the Game Commission was made aware last fall that Pennsylvania had received two shipments of farmed elk from infected ranches in Colorado. High-risk animals were located and tested for CWD by the U.S. and Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture.
"Fortunately, all of these high-risk animals tested negative for CWD," Ross said. ###"However, this wake-up call demonstrated that Pennsylvania's borders were wide open for the introduction of this disease, and the state's farmed deer and elk industries, and wild deer and elk populations could be placed at risk."
Last fall, Ross formed a CWD task force of Game Commission employees to develop an internal action plan and to begin working with the state Agriculture Department on a memorandum of understanding to outline each agency's efforts to prevent CWD from entering the state, as well as each agency's role in the event an outbreak occurs.
Since that time, the Game Commission has attempted to work out a memorandum of understanding with the state Agriculture Department on an action plan to reduce the risk of CWD being introduced into Pennsylvania and how to respond in the event of an outbreak.
In January, following meetings between the two agencies, the state Agriculture Department issued a temporary international/interstate importation ban of all live cervids from states that have a history of CWD. ###Currently, about 20 other states, including New York, New Jersey, Texas, Vermont and Indiana, have implemented complete importation bans. ###In April 2002, the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agency Directors endorsed an immediate moratorium on the importation of all live cervids into any northeastern state.
Pennsylvania is reviewing other actions to prevent CWD from entering or being spread in the state, such as a ban on feeding deer. ###Current law prohibits the feeding of elk. ###The agency has developed an informational brochure and a special section on its website concerning CWD.
The Game Commission also is sending an agency representative to a meeting of national wildlife professionals in Denver on Aug. 6-7. ###The meeting will focus on the status of current CWD research and recommendations for standardized surveillance and response programs to prevent, contain and/or eradicate CWD.
"The Game Commission will continue to be vigilant in its role of protecting our wild elk and deer herds, as well as the state's captive deer and elk industry," Ross said. ###"We must take all commonsense steps to safeguard our big game species, and we will.
"We also need the public to contact our offices if they see deer, elk or other cervids exhibiting symptoms of CWD or other diseases."
CWD was first recognized as a clinical disease in a research facility at Fort Collins, Colorado in 1967. ###In 1978, deer at a research facility in Wyoming were diagnosed with CWD. ###In 1981, wild deer in northcentral Colorado were identified as CWD-infected. ###From 1996 through 1999, CWD was identified in captive elk in South Dakota, Saskatchewan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Montana, and Colorado. ###CWD was detected in wild mule deer in Nebraska in 2000, and Saskatchewan in 2001.
In 2002, CWD began to garner national media and Congressional attention as it was identified in wild deer in Wisconsin, New Mexico and western Colorado. ###
On July 17, the U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 377-46, approved an appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Interior that includes a $2.7 million for the U.S. Geological Survey/Biological Resources Division to carry out Chronic Wasting Disease research.
July 30, 2002
For Information Contact:
Jerry Feaser
717-705-6541 (ext. 3106)
PGCNEWS@state.pa.us
GAME COMMISSION TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT
STATE'S WILD AND CAPTIVE DEER AND ELK FROM CWD
HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Vern Ross today announced he has issued a temporary ban on the importation of all live cervids, such as deer and elk, into Pennsylvania to protect the state's wild and captive herds from becoming infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD). The ban will take effect Aug. 1, and will remain in effect until rescinded.
"We are fortunate to be able to assure the public that we currently have no confirmed or suspected cases of CWD in Pennsylvania's wild or captive cervid herds, and we want to see it stay that way," Ross said. ###"As the agency responsible to protect, manage and conserve the wildlife resources of this state, the Game Commission is committed to take all steps necessary to prevent the spread of CWD into Pennsylvania.
"However, the threat of CWD is growing, and there currently are more questions than answers about this disease. ###With that in mind, we don't believe there is any reason to postpone this commonsense and responsible action." ###
CWD has been detected in wild and captive herds of deer, elk and mule deer in several western states, Wisconsin and Canada. ###First identified in 1967, CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that affects cervids, including all species of deer, elk and moose. It is a progressive and always fatal disease of the nervous system afflicting wild and captive cervids. ###Scientists theorize CWD is caused by an unknown agent capable of transforming normal brain proteins into an abnormal form.
There currently is no reliable way to test live animals for CWD, nor is there a vaccine. ###Clinical signs include poor posture, lowered head and ears, uncoordinated movement, rough-hair coat, weight loss, increased thirst, excessive drooling, and, ultimately, death. ###There is no evidence so far of CWD having any affect on humans or other non-cervid livestock under normal conditions.
In Wisconsin, the first state east of the Mississippi River to have detected CWD in wild deer, hunters and wildlife managers are taking steps to kill thousands of deer in an attempt to head off the spread of CWD. ###Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum, in early May, called a special session of the legislature to address the CWD outbreak. ###One of the results of the special session was a measure to spend $4 million to test Wisconsin deer. ###In late May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Wisconsin $3.5 million in federal homeland security grants to improve its animal health infrastructure and combat Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). ###This is part of Wisconsin's request for $18.5 million in federal funding over the next three years.
Under state law, the Game Commission has the authority to issue permits and set regulations for Pennsylvania's nearly 700 deer propagators and 90 elk propagators. ###The agency estimates the state's wild deer herd population is more than one million, and the wild elk herd is nearly 800.
"CWD is a prime concern for all interested in wildlife management," said state Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Edward W. Helfrick. ###"I commend the Game Commission for taking prudent steps to ensure the health of our deer and elk herds."
"This is a drastic measure, but a necessary one, to protect our deer and elk, as well as our hunters," added state House Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Bruce Smith.
Ross stressed that if CWD reaches Pennsylvania, it would have devastating impacts, not only on the state's long and proud tradition of hunting, but on the state's economy as well. According to a 1998 study by the Center for Rural PA, hunting pumps $4.8 billion into Pennsylvania's economy, and more than 45,000 jobs in Pennsylvania are associated with hunting.
"The Game Commission worked with Penn State University veterinary officials to test for CWD and other diseases in the elk taken during the 2001 elk hunt," Ross said. ###"All test results were negative.
"For the coming elk hunting season, we will continue to test all elk taken by hunters, and we will train our deer aging teams who visit meat processors to collect a significant random sample from hunter-killed deer during the 2002 rifle deer season for CWD testing."
These precautions aside, the Game Commission was made aware last fall that Pennsylvania had received two shipments of farmed elk from infected ranches in Colorado. High-risk animals were located and tested for CWD by the U.S. and Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture.
"Fortunately, all of these high-risk animals tested negative for CWD," Ross said. ###"However, this wake-up call demonstrated that Pennsylvania's borders were wide open for the introduction of this disease, and the state's farmed deer and elk industries, and wild deer and elk populations could be placed at risk."
Last fall, Ross formed a CWD task force of Game Commission employees to develop an internal action plan and to begin working with the state Agriculture Department on a memorandum of understanding to outline each agency's efforts to prevent CWD from entering the state, as well as each agency's role in the event an outbreak occurs.
Since that time, the Game Commission has attempted to work out a memorandum of understanding with the state Agriculture Department on an action plan to reduce the risk of CWD being introduced into Pennsylvania and how to respond in the event of an outbreak.
In January, following meetings between the two agencies, the state Agriculture Department issued a temporary international/interstate importation ban of all live cervids from states that have a history of CWD. ###Currently, about 20 other states, including New York, New Jersey, Texas, Vermont and Indiana, have implemented complete importation bans. ###In April 2002, the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agency Directors endorsed an immediate moratorium on the importation of all live cervids into any northeastern state.
Pennsylvania is reviewing other actions to prevent CWD from entering or being spread in the state, such as a ban on feeding deer. ###Current law prohibits the feeding of elk. ###The agency has developed an informational brochure and a special section on its website concerning CWD.
The Game Commission also is sending an agency representative to a meeting of national wildlife professionals in Denver on Aug. 6-7. ###The meeting will focus on the status of current CWD research and recommendations for standardized surveillance and response programs to prevent, contain and/or eradicate CWD.
"The Game Commission will continue to be vigilant in its role of protecting our wild elk and deer herds, as well as the state's captive deer and elk industry," Ross said. ###"We must take all commonsense steps to safeguard our big game species, and we will.
"We also need the public to contact our offices if they see deer, elk or other cervids exhibiting symptoms of CWD or other diseases."
CWD was first recognized as a clinical disease in a research facility at Fort Collins, Colorado in 1967. ###In 1978, deer at a research facility in Wyoming were diagnosed with CWD. ###In 1981, wild deer in northcentral Colorado were identified as CWD-infected. ###From 1996 through 1999, CWD was identified in captive elk in South Dakota, Saskatchewan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Montana, and Colorado. ###CWD was detected in wild mule deer in Nebraska in 2000, and Saskatchewan in 2001.
In 2002, CWD began to garner national media and Congressional attention as it was identified in wild deer in Wisconsin, New Mexico and western Colorado. ###
On July 17, the U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 377-46, approved an appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Interior that includes a $2.7 million for the U.S. Geological Survey/Biological Resources Division to carry out Chronic Wasting Disease research.