WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – The state Department of Environmental Conservation says a case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) – which affects the brain and nervous system of deer, elk and moose – has been confirmed.
The disease was detected “in a facility in DEC’s Region 6 area,” according to a press release Sunday afternoon from the DEC.
Region 6 takes in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties in the north country, as well as Herkimer and Oneida counties.
The infected sample was collected as part of routine testing conducted by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. The press release note “there is no evidence that CWD is present in wild deer at this time.”
While there is no strong evidence that CWD can infect humans, ” people should not consume meat from infected animals,” the press release notes.
The state will increase its sampling and monitoring of wild deer, and is asking for help from hunters and members of the public, who are “encouraged to report any sick or dying deer, including roadkill deer, in the Region 6 area to DEC for possible collection and testing by contacting DEC’s Region 6 Wildlife Office at 315-785-2263 or email at Information.R6@dec.ny.gov.”
CWD is deadly to deer populations but has been slow to spread in New York. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) detected cases in both wild and captive deer in 2005, but until Sunday’s announcement, had not detected any more cases in nearly 20 years, with 65,000 wild deer tested.
The DEC offered tips for minimizing risk from CWD:
– If hunting any type of 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 parts.
– Avoid deer urine-based lures or attractant scents, as these could contain infectious material. If using lures, use synthetics.
– Dispose of carcass waste in a landfill, not out on the landscape.
– Contact the nearest DEC regional wildlife office or Environmental Conservation Police Officer to report a deer that appears sick, unusually thin, or behaves abnormally.
– Hunt only wild deer and support fair chase hunting principles.
– Do not consume game that appears sick or diseased.
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