CWD Confirmed in PA

[neville]

Possible public meeting next Wednesday evening at Bermudian Springs High School auditorium. Details next week.

[galthatfishes]

Joe, can you tell us, when you have time, if this was a deer farm that practiced the voluntary monitoring program for CWD or not? How exactly was it discovered?

[neville]

Gal - unknown at this time. History - fawn born in Lycoming Co., business now closed, fence still up but no deer on site. Fawn moved to York Co., owners had 'personal issues" and now doe moved to farm in Adams Co. At Adams Co. location, now doe gives birth (late), falls ill and dies. PDA testing protocal kicks in on carcass and CWD found. Details very sketchy. One big issue - York Co. site now devoid of deer but FENCE DOWN allowing wild deer access to area. This is very unofficial version. Many details to follow as this is sorted out. PDA will be the official point of info on this with PGC dealing with the hunting related issues. Speculation unfortunately on many issues. Look to PDA for most answers.

Disease Management Areas (DMA) will be set along with other measures in an Executive Order next week.

"This is not day two but the beginning of year one."

[galthatfishes]

Good thing they didn't move the IRRC bill, now isn't it? Cripes. Thanks for the insight.

[neville]

To put it into perspective, rabies kills both deer and people. CWD has never been found to kill people. No need to get too worked up, however we are taking this very seriously and the monitoring plan to be implmented next week is quite substantial.

[neville]

PFSC and other groups - please contact me next week. We need to meet with the folks in York and Adams Co. Our WCO's will be reaching out to clubs, but I'd like to talk with Bob Hilker and others. They will be part of the process and a major component in monitoring. We need your help in these areas. Have the local folks contact me so we can start getting the word out.

Thanks.

[galthatfishes]

I think we all know CWD doesn't effect humans (yet). Will get the word out.

[neville]

Thank you for all your help.

[melody]

I'll have Gary touch base with you next week. He can get you the contacts for our Adams and York Co. folks.

[galthatfishes]

Rick Watts and I will be there from QDMA. Please let us know when and where Joe. Thanks.

[neville]

The big thing we'll need the orgs to do is get the word out on checking deer in the DMA at designated check points/places. When we have details I'll get them to everyone. We'll need a substantial size sample for adequate monitoring.

Unless a major change is made, it looks like the meeting at Bermudian Springs will happen Wednesday at 7 PM.

[galthatfishes]

Thanks Joe. Its a public meeting, correct?

QDMA is going to try to send an e-blast to their membership in those areas on Monday afternoon.

Any more details as to the meeting type, town, etc (I know, as it develops- not a problem) would be appreciated.

I sure hope ag follows up with the York Co farmer whose fence is down and is able to track all of his deer.

[neville]

It is defintely a public meeting and we would like all who have questions or concerns to attend. Unless something major happens it will be held at: Bermudian Springs High School auditorium on Wednesday Oct. 17 from 1900-2100 hrs.
Address: 7335 Carlisle Pike, York Springs, PA 17372

[galthatfishes]

Thanks. Kip has the word and will spread it.

[galthatfishes]

blog.pennlive.com/pa-sportsman/2012/10/hunters_still_hunting_deer_near_area_of_confirmed_chronic_wasting_disease_in_adams_and_york_counties.html#incart_river_default

[galthatfishes]

I called Rep Dan Moul this morning, since one of the deer farms is in or near his district. He did NOT realize one of the fences was down (at the York facility). I told him that Marcus went there Sat. and the fence was absolutely down.

He went to the Gov's office where he spoke to a hunting staffer who is getting on Ag to get a fence up there to protect the wild herd.

[Deleted]

Good job Kathy, Ag will not do a thing unless forced to do something. I have zero faith in them in this matter.

[galthatfishes]

I have as much faith in Ag as you. How can they call an area "quarantined" when there isn't even the slightest barrier to keep free range deer out of it?

This one doesn't go away when you sweep it under the rug. It keeps persisting in the soil- for decades.

[dennyf]

I well remember the BOC meeting some years ago, when the lobby was packed with deer farmers and those who spoke to the commissioners, whined about PGC's "heavy hand".

Wasn't long afterwards that Ag took over control of deer/elk farming in PA.

And now we have the inevitable result of that change in oversight, taken from an agency that knew what it was doing and why, then delivered into the wrong hands.

There's a valuable lesson in there about meddling and political expediency, for those who are not too dense to grasp it.

[galthatfishes]

I have a lot of questions for tomorrow, and I doubt they'll let me have the floor that long. Hopeful someone else will be there so I can give them some questions unless they have their own?

[melody]

Heard they've located a 4th farm in York Co with connections to the infected deer.

[galthatfishes]

I'm developing a list of questions for the meeting. Please let me know if anyone can think of more. My questions will be directed primarily to the Department of Agriculture. They gave me more questions than answers at the hearing on Monday. Thanks for the info on York Mel.

I understand a fourth farm (in York Co) has been added to the list of quarantined farms. How many more do you predict could be added?


Are all accounted for in Lycoming, Adams and York? How many deer in all are you looking for? How many deer total are quarantined?


Fence in York is down, and wild deer can interact there. Do you have any plans to replace that fence?

Were any deer set loose or are there any escapees?

Any deer from any of these facilities get sold to restaurants or humans for consumption, or any deer get sold to farmers that provide those products?

What are the regulations on bedding/urine, feces disposal; because the waste is often thrown on the other side of the fence where wild deer are known to interact, especially when doe are in estrus. Wild Deer are also attracted to these areas because of the scent of deer, and have been known to eat the feces of the deer outside of the fence because of the high mineral and protein content.

Urine sales/use ban measures in place?



How many farms of the 1200 deer farms participate in voluntary monitoring? What about the rest? (adding) What incentive do the deer farmers have to test knowing if a sample comes back positive, they will be put out of business??

Mr. Shultz mentioned mutation as a possible source at the House Game and Fisheries Committee meeting on Monday. Can you explain that in more detail?

It has been almost a week. How many farms in the trace backs? Where are they located? How many deer do you know or believe are unaccounted for?

AG said last Thursday at the press conference that the public would have daily sit reps. We haven’t seen any. Why is that? Do we need to file right to know requests when this has the potential to effect more than 1 million hunters in Pennsylvania

[gfanikf]

Isn't, if I recall correctly,one of the responses in the CWD response plan by the PGC, expanded seasons and limits being lifted?

[galthatfishes]

gfanic, I really don't have questions for the PGC because they well explained on Monday what their intentions/plans were for the area; AND they are putting out a press release. The Game Commissions response to the issue is appropriate. They are not covering anything up.

That said, the Department of Ag, who is charged with these deer farms; stopped shy of telling anyone anything that wasn't already common knowledge. They didn't detail a thing, and when they had an opportunity to be truthful with the legislature regarding the fence at the York facility, they did not do that.

They "claimed" it was "quarantined". Really? Do deer now read yellow tape markers? I hardly think so.

We have a 4th farm, yet no press release. No notice to consumers who may be buying deer for human consumption.

At some point, this prion will mutate to the point that humans can contract it, making their brians like a sponge and killing them. Don't you think an advisory is in order?

They surely didn't address heavy rains, and their washing the soils (and feces and everything else) from inside to outside of the fence.

One would think an agency who has had "control" of the issue for 6 years would be a little more informative; especially when they said they would be?

Carl told the Game and Fish Committee that the executive order regarding hunting and the DMA (disease management area) would be out today. I expect to see it today- the same as when Ag said "daily reports" yet they haven't issued one.

PGC keeps their word. What has Ag doe except to sweep it under a rug and keep the truth from coming out?

[galthatfishes]

Joe, do you want the groups to meet somewhere? I'll be there by 6