A confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease was recently detected in a facility in upstate New York, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
DEC did not identify the facility or specify the species and number of animals effected. But DEC did say the “isolated detection” was discovered in Region 6 during routine CWD monitoring by the state Departments of Agriculture and Markets (AGM).
DEC’s Region 6 covers the Western Adirondacks and Lake Champlain, including Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, and St. Lawrence counties.
There are no suspected cases of CWD in wild deer, DEC said.
The state is now implementing New York State’s interagency CWD Response Plan to thoroughly investigate this detection, DEC said.
DEC said it is working with local hunters, processors, and taxidermists in the area to monitor for CWD. Efforts are also underway to collect roadkill to determine if CWD is present in wild deer. This enhanced sampling and monitoring will inform additional actions to guide the state’s disease management strategy, DEC said.
Hunters and members of the public are encouraged to report to DEC any sick or dying deer, including roadkill deer, in the Region 6 for possible collection and testing. Contact DEC’s Region 6 Wildlife Office at 315-785-2263 or email at Information.R6@dec.ny.gov
What is CWD?
CWD is a highly contagious and fatal brain disease found in deer species such as caribou, elk and moose. Animals in latter stages of the disease become emaciated, stumble around or act listless, drool excessively, and exhibit no fear of humans.
Although there is no strong evidence that CWD can infect humans, people should not consume meat from infected animals, DEC said. More information about CWD can be found at DEC’s website.
CWD was first identified in captive deer in Colorado in the late 1960s, and wild deer in 1981, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. CWD has since spread to 33 states and four Canadian provinces.
CWD was first reported in NY in Oneida County in 2005. The outbreak was swiftly extinguished following a $1 million testing and culling operation led by DEC and AGM. Until now, there have been no reports of CWD since 2005.
Hunters can help protect New York’s deer herd from CWD by following these tips:
If hunting deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of New York, debone the harvest before bringing it back to the state. DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported carcasses and partsAvoid deer urine-based lures or attractant scents which might contain infectious materialDispose of carcass waste in a landfill, not in the woodsContact the nearest DEC regional wildlife office or Environmental Conservation Police Officer to report a deer that appears sick, unusually thin, or behaves abnormallyHunt only wild deer and support fair chase hunting principlesDo not consume game that appears sick or diseased
Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors