Latest news with #ChronicWastingDisease
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
CWD surveillance measures in effect for three KY counties
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Officials say new Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance measures are now in effect for Henderson, Union and Webster counties, following the detection of CWD in a deer harvested just across the Ohio River in Posey County, Indiana. Officials with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) say, in response, the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a CWD Surveillance Zone for the three counties, expanding the state's existing surveillance area, which includes Ballard, Breckinridge, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hardin, Hickman, Marshall, Meade and McCracken counties. The zone brings specific regulations to help limit the spread of the disease among deer. Board approves proposed tuition increases at Murray State, WKU Officials say these are the key regulations now in effect: Mandatory testing Hunters in Henderson, Union and Webster counties must bring deer harvested during the first three days of modern gun season, which is November 8 to 10, to a staffed check station or CWD Sample Drop-Off site for testing. Carcass transport limits Whole carcasses or high-risk parts from deer harvested in the zone cannot leave the three counties. Permitted items for transport include de-boned meat, clean skulls and teeth, antlers with or without a clean skull cap, hides and finished taxidermy mounts. Carcasses of deer harvested outside the zone may be brought in. Rehabilitation ban The rehabilitation of deer is prohibited within the surveillance zone. For the 2025–2026 deer season, under the authority of the commissioner, two key changes take effect in all counties that are designated within the CWD Surveillance Zone. According to officials, baiting is now allowed in all counties within the CWD Surveillance Zone, provided it is not distributed through contact feeders like troughs, funnels and gravity feeders without spreading capabilities. This change overrides the previous baiting ban, aiming to give hunters more opportunities to harvest deer while reducing deer densities. A statewide prohibition of feeding is still effective from March 1 through July 31. Also, feeding and baiting is illegal on all Wildlife Management Areas. Man identified after drowning in Pike County lake KDFWR says while permitted with limitations, baiting promotes unnatural congregation of deer, increasing the risk of CWD transmission through saliva, urine and feces from infected animals. Hunters should weigh this risk before choosing to bait. Officials also note to manage deer populations and improve disease monitoring, a special two-day antlerless-only gun season will be held on September 27 through 28, in all CWD Surveillance Zone counties. During this special season, hunters are required to drop off the head of harvested deer to a CWD Sample Drop-off site. Hunters may harvest any deer without visible antlers, including button bucks. However, no deer hunters—whether using firearms, bows or crossbows—may take an antlered buck in a CWD Surveillance Zone county during this weekend. Hunter orange requirements are in effect during this season. According to KDFWR, Chronic Wasting Disease is caused by abnormal proteins called prions and affects white-tailed deer, elk and other animals in the deer family. There is no known cure or vaccine, and the disease is always fatal in infected animals. The disease is not known to be transmissible to people, but as a precaution the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends not consuming meat from deer that test positive for the disease. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife always recommends not consuming meat taken from animals that appear to be sick or in poor condition. Lincoln State Park to close some facilities for dam repair Officials say hunters all across Kentucky are encouraged to submit samples through the CWD Sample Drop-Off sites or CWD Sample Mail-in Kits at any time during the hunting season. The test comes at no monetary cost to the hunter, and results are typically returned within four to six weeks. Back in February, there was a second positive case of CWD confirmed in Posey County. The infected, wild, white-tailed deer was a 2.5-year-old male harvested in Posey County. The deer was confirmed positive for CWD by two independent tests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More than 4,000 deer harvested in Niagara County this past hunting season
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reports that hunters in New York harvested an estimated 223,304 deer during the 2024-25 hunting seasons. In addition, DEC announced the release of a report noting agency actions in response to the Herkimer County chronic wasting disease (CWD) incident and the state's plans for continued, intensified disease surveillance. The 2024-25 estimated deer harvest included 122,427 antlered bucks (i.e., adult males) and 100,877 antlerless deer (i.e., adult females and fawns of either sex). Statewide, this represents a 9% increase in antlered buck harvest and a 3% increase in antlerless deer harvest from last season. However, the total deer harvest was slightly below the five-year average. In Niagara County, 4,027 deer were harvested during the season. Orleans County saw 4,416 deer harvested. Notable numbers • 15.7 and 0.6 — number of deer harvested per square mile in the units with the highest and lowest harvest density. • 66.9% — portion of the adult buck harvest that was 2.5 years or older statewide, up from 52% a decade ago, and 30% in the 1990s. • 53.6% — portion of successful deer hunters that reported their harvest as required by law. This is greater than the five-year average of 48.2%. • 13,488 — number of hunter-harvested deer checked by DEC staff in 2024 to determine hunter reporting rate and collect biological data (e.g., age, sex, antler data). This represents 6% of the total 2024-25 deer harvest. • 18,372 — number of deer harvested using a crossbow, less than half as many as were taken with a vertical bow. Deer harvest data are gathered from two main sources: harvest reports required within seven days of harvest of all successful deer hunters and DEC's examination of harvested deer at meat processors and check stations across the state. Harvest estimates are made by cross-referencing these two data sources and calculating the total harvest from the reporting rate for each zone and tag type. Chronic Wasting Disease Last fall, a case of Chronic Wasting Disease was confirmed in a captive red deer herd in the town of Columbia, Herkimer County. In coordination with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), all captive red deer at the facility were tested. DEC also increased its sampling efforts for wild white-tailed deer. With the assistance of local hunters, landowners, and USDA Wildlife Services, DEC collected samples from more than 200 wild deer within the six towns surrounding the captive deer facility where CWD was confirmed in 2024; none tested positive, providing hope that CWD may not have spread into the wild deer herd. Contact the nearest DEC regional wildlife office or Environmental Conservation Police Officer to report a deer that appears sick, unusually thin, or behaves abnormally.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New wildlife feeding ban takes effect in WA amid concerns of CWD
May 20—OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has adopted new regulations prohibiting the feeding of deer, elk and moose statewide, effective last Friday. This decision comes as a precautionary measure to mitigate the risk of transmitting Chronic Wasting Disease, an always-fatal neurological disease that affects cervids, among Washington's wildlife populations. The rule was formed in response to the discovery of CWD in Eastern Washington for the first time in 2024. With no known cure for this disease, state officials identified the need to reduce concentrations of cervids at feeding sites, which could accelerate the spread of this and other wildlife diseases. Kyle Garrison, an ungulate specialist from the WDFW, emphasized the dangers of wildlife congregations due to feeding practices during a hearing on March 18. "Artificially increasing cervid concentrations raises the potential for disease transmission. When CWD is present, feeding can facilitate frequent exposure to prions through animal contact and contaminated sites," he explained. The regulations apply not only to direct feeding, but another rule change March 24 also restricts baiting animals during hunting, both because of CWD. Public feedback during the hearing revealed a mix of support and skepticism surrounding the new regulations. Out of 453 comments received, many attendees expressed agreement with the ban, understanding its necessity in limiting the potentially devastating impacts of CWD. However, some voiced concerns about whether the science behind the regulations was robust enough, noting that deer, elk, and moose are social animals that naturally aggregate. Others had concerns around potential economic impacts related to hunting and wildlife tourism in regions where these practices were previously common. Despite the mixed reactions, WDFW officials reiterated that feeding wildlife is neither biologically necessary for survival nor beneficial for their health. The ban, according to WDFW, is a step in promoting the overall wellness of Washington's wildlife populations, particularly in light of the threats posed by diseases like CWD. The health risks associated with wildlife feeding extend beyond disease transmission. Animals accustomed to human-provided food may venture onto roads or become more exposed to predators, according to WDFW. The digestive systems of these animals are not equipped to handle non-natural foods, with diets involving fruit and grains leading to health complications like rumen acidosis, a metabolic disorder caused by a sudden dietary shift, according to WDFW. WDFW encourages the public to support wildlife through habitat preservation rather than feeding. To this end, the agency is promoting its Habitat at Home program, which offers tips for creating natural environments that support wildlife year-round. Residents are also urged to report sightings of sick or injured animals to help monitor health-related issues within wildlife populations. "I realize this change may be difficult for those who enjoy feeding local wildlife, but the practice is not biologically necessary for these animals to survive," Garrison said. "Ceasing feeding is a significant way for the public to help minimize the impacts of CWD in our state." What is Chronic Wasting Disease? Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurologic illness of cervids, which include deer, elk, moose and caribou. CWD is caused by an infectious prion protein and transmitted from animal to animal through feces, saliva, urine or through contaminated environments. Most animals with CWD appear normal until the end stages of the disease when they show signs of weight loss, lethargy, drooping ears, excessive salivation and urination and loss of fear of people. There is no cure for CWD, and testing tissue collected from the head of carcasses is the only way to determine if an animal is infected with it. SOURCE/WDFW
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Second case of chronic wasting disease confirmed in Georgia
BERRIN COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) — A second deer has tested position for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Georgia, officials confirmed. The four-and-a-half-year-old male deer was taken in Berrien County around 400 yards from the first CWD-positive deer's harvest location. The first positive case of chronic wasting disease in Georgia was confirmed in late January by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). That sample was taken from a two-and-a-half-year-old male white-tailed deer from private property in Lanier County. The fatal neurological disease has no current treatments or preventative vaccines. CWD affects deer, elk and moose and is caused by infectious, misfolded proteins called prions. DNR established a management area following the first positive case which included Lanier and Berrien counties to determine how far CWD could have spread and what percent of deer in the area are positive. Since the second deer was found in Berrien County, DNR said they will continue to monitor the same management area. The second deer was reportedly taken by a landowner permittee assisting with ongoing sampling as part of DNR's CWD response plan, a DNR press release said. DNR said to keep prevalence low, additional deer are also harvested around each CWD detection since they are most likely to have been in contact with the positive deer. The disease will steadily spread if left unmanaged, DNR reported. 'Our staff continues to work in collaboration with landowners and hunters in the CWD Management Area to sample for the disease. These collaborative efforts will help us manage CWD and ensure Georgia maintains healthy deer herds,' said DNR Commissioner Walter Rabon. While there is no known transmission of CWD to humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that hunters harvesting deer, elk or moose from an area where CWD is known to be present have their animal tested. DNR said that the CDC suggests hunters do this before consuming the meat and to not consume the meat if the animal tests positive. Here's what DNR is saying you could do to help slow the spread of CWD: Report sick-appearing deer to the DNR's Game Management Offices at Don't move deer waste carcass parts from one area to another, leave them where the deer was killed or end up in a landfill for household waste. Never import live deer into Georgia. Importing live deer of any species into Georgia is illegal. Report any importation of live deer to DNR's Law Enforcement Division (1-800-241-4113). Debone meat, clean skull plates, remove all soft tissue from skull mounts. Never bring whole deer carcasses or deer heads into Georgia from out of state. It is illegal. If you witness a deer with any of these symptoms, report it to your local office: dramatic weight loss or wasting poor body condition subtle head tremors head and ear dropping excessive drooling For more information on Chronic Wasting Disease, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Second case of ‘zombie deer disease' confirmed in GA
Georgia wildlife officials confirmed a second deer has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. Channel 2 Action News reported on the first 'zombie deer disease' case in Lanier County back in January. On Tuesday, officials said a 4-and-a-half-year-old buck was taken in Berrien County. Officials said the locations where both deer were found are approximately 400 yards apart. Chronic Wasting Disease, more commonly called 'zombie deer disease,' is deadly to deer, elk, and moose. There are no treatments for the disease. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] While there's no reported case of a human contracting disease from infected deer, like Mad Cow Disease, it can't be completely ruled out. 'I want to assure our hunters that deer hunting will continue to thrive in Georgia, despite this current discovery,' Walter Rabon, Commissioner of the Georgia DNR said in January after the first positive case was discovered. 'Working together with our hunters and all Georgians, we will manage CWD and maintain healthy deer herds.' Health officials warn that people should not eat venison from an infected deer. For more information about Georgia's CWD Response Plan, visit TRENDING STORIES: Veteran Atlanta Country music radio personality 'Cadillac Jack' has died at age 51 Paramedic accused of assaulting patient in ambulance in Cobb County Mother describes horrifying moments as she watched her SUV burst into flames along GA 400 [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
