CWD Confirmed in PA

[dennyf]

WI dove right in and immediately tried to quickly bring herd numbers down in Dane and other counties affected by CWD. Additional doe permits were handed out to anyone that brought a doe in for DNR to haul off for disposal.

IIRC, that was about 8 or 10 years ago? One of my buds who moved out there near Madison, used to send me links to the pics and news stories when that was going on.

Tthey haven't figured out yet whether that was the best way to address the problem, but they acted quickly. From what I can recall, that slaughter didn't really have much of an affect on the spread of CWD in Wisconsin?

Hunters have been outraged ever since, with the lower numbers of deer.

BTW, one attendee left early last night, cursing about PGC not knowing what it was doing. Don't think he even had a clue about what those down front were talking about? No surprise here.

[galthatfishes]

The only thing going to SLOW it at this point is more stringent regulatory reqirements starting with a double fence (containing the first fence); regulations on bedding material and manure products, or stronger- for STARTERS.

Did you know that removing the first six inches of top soil and replacing it, and waiting 5 years before a deer is placed back into an area is NOT enough to stop it?

Hunters across this commonwealth need to stand together, join the PFSC, and demand changes in both law and policy.

We are one million strong if we take APATHY out of our equation.

[Deleted]

What about transportation of existing deer located in farms? Anything in the works to prevent future movement of deer until things are under more control? I have visions of some deer farmers selling everything off while they can. Maybe it will be self-policing as others will not be willing to purchase farm deer from PA. Maybe in some cases but given a low enough price for a "trophy" farm raised buck, I am sure it will be transported.

[dennyf]

Recall reading about one place in Colorado several years ago, where they excavated far more soil than that; Treated the subsoil in hopes of eradicatong the CWD prions, then brought in new soil for the pens.

Within a short period of time, the fresh stock of deer or elk, again had contracted CWD there.

[Dutch]

Denny, that sort of tells me it isn't just a soils issue.

[dennyf]

That may have been one of the early attempts to "sterilize" the soil with bleach or some other agent and it didn't work. Within a year or two, some of the new herd was also CWD positive.

I've read so much stuff on CWD over the past 10 years or so, it all begins to run together.

When all that stuff was going in in WI, my bud eventually sent me an email attachment that was page after page of the latest CWD research conducted in WI. At the time, I sent it on to the Game Commission. Made my eyes water readin' all that stuff.

He worked at the UW/Madison Med School in (IIRC?) heart or heart valve research (he's retired now). Worked for many years at PSU/Hershey in the same areas of research, before going to WI.

One of his former grad student assistants helped conduct/write that CWD study, after she graduated from UW.

[neville]

Oct 18, 2012 15:15:33 GMT -5 @me said:

What about transportation of existing deer located in farms? Anything in the works to prevent future movement of deer until things are under more control? I have visions of some deer farmers selling everything off while they can. Maybe it will be self-policing as others will not be willing to purchase farm deer from PA. Maybe in some cases but given a low enough price for a "trophy" farm raised buck, I am sure it will be transported.

A General Store three miles from what is called Dover site #2 has on their bulletin board a deer "for sale" sign that went up in the last three days. This was reported today to AG.

[galthatfishes]

Oct 18, 2012 15:15:33 GMT -5 @me said:

What about transportation of existing deer located in farms? Anything in the works to prevent future movement of deer until things are under more control? I have visions of some deer farmers selling everything off while they can. Maybe it will be self-policing as others will not be willing to purchase farm deer from PA. Maybe in some cases but given a low enough price for a "trophy" farm raised buck, I am sure it will be transported.

Ag said last night that they RECOMMEND no sale; transfer, buying...they then ADDED its a good time to SELL.

I about fell out of my chair

[Dutch]

Two more farms quarantined.

[35whelan]

One thing come's to mind when talking about natural food and store bought mineral block's, deer cane etc and etc.... Who know's what the content is or where it came from that make's up these attractant's. what is in a mineral block??? Any by-product's of animal's that could have been infected ground up in the ingredient's??

I think we all know the difference between some little old lady feeding bird's and Dan the hunter putting out any kind of attractant to attract deer?? And we as hunter's should start the ball rolling by keeping un-natural product's out of the wood's...

[35whelan]

One farm I hunt in Iowa the neighbor had Elk in a pen.. The fence around the pen actually consisted of two fence's... Between the two was a buffer zone of a few feet.. This was so wild deer on the outside could never come in contact wit the enclosed elk...

[galthatfishes]

Direct contact, yes 35. Indirect in ain event when the soils, feces, urine and bedding material are washed to the other side won't be prevented; however.

[ridgecommander]

Oct 18, 2012 18:32:10 GMT -5 35whelan said:

I think we all know the difference between some little old lady feeding bird's and Dan the hunter putting out any kind of attractant to attract deer??

The only difference I see is that one will be focused on and the other won't. Grandma may not intend to attract deer but she is. Both are equally detrimental when disease can be spread from deer to deer. As are berry bushes in summer, a fallen tree in the middle of winter and a brassica plot in late October.

I see this particular issue as the easy target within a very complex case.

This has the potential to be a war on a certain populous while largely ignoring another that is contributing as much if not more to the issue. I would venture a educated guess that there are way more substances put out there by non hunters that congregate and attract deer, both purposely and unpurposely. In the area that I live, the non hunters outnumber hunters by a huge margin. It is rare to pass more than a few houses without seeing the same corn, salt and mineral blocks, birdfeeders and various other wildlife attractants.

All I am saying that is this ban is going to be implemented, I sure hope that all are held to the same standards. As I said before, I am not convinced this ban will slow anything down but it was a "easy" action.

[35whelan]

Ridgecommander... I see your point on enforcing the law across the board... YES, all feeding or baiting should stop in the area affected.. And while we are on the subject of keeping the playing field level for all.... Grandma should be warned and told to remove bird feeder's or be fined, with a follow up visit to see if she complied. If she still has not removed food source. Then fine her. She was told. The hunter on the other hand that place's a food source in the wood's with the sole intent of attracting deer FOR WHAT EVER REASON.. SHOULD BE FINED.. ZERO TOLERENCE in this instance. Sound's fair to me. We as hunter's should know what's going on, where Grandma is unaware of what's happening outside her back yard. So she deserve's to be told and given one warning..

[wentzler]

Thanks, PFSC...for keeping us abreast of the news. wentzler

[galthatfishes]

Awesome to see ya here ed! Glad ya registered!!

[dennyf]

HTH did he get past my "firewall"?

Welcome, Ed.

[wentzler]

Thank you, Gal:) (that sounds so 'contrite' after all you and I have been through.... Sorry:) I'm here on a mission, wouldn't ya know? I have more than a few good friends make their livings in the taxidermy business. As you well know, I 'prefer' to hang with the decent folk, and these guys are all in the category. I am worried for them, too, re: CWD

They are the kind of folks who will help spread solid info, not much interested in the 'chaffe'..and willing to go the neccessary mile to get 'er done right. As hype and fear take reign...need to keep the info to these kind of folks straight skinny. And I kin tell ya the hunting community around here doesn't know whether to whistle or wind their watches. Feel the need to have a 'certified' straight info location to send folks:) ??

Hi, Mel!!!

[galthatfishes]

Taxis and butchers- and cleaning potential hazzardous materials from their tools I would think. UGH

I got my RTK back, so I filed this one.

I am asking for any daily situational reports to do with Chronic Wasting Disease from October 4, 2012 to the time the Department of Agriculture’s Investigation is complete (ongoing). My request for information should not be interpreted that I am only requesting until the date of file. If I must give a date, I would like the records starting with October 4th and ending December 31, 2012 and I can file another request form if the investigation continues. In addition to the daily situational reports regarding chronic wasting disease; I am specifically interested in the number of deer found to test positive, the number of farms involved, and the specific locations. I want to know when the fence will be re-installed at the York County facility and if it is single or double fenced. I am requesting all information on what additional restrictions are being placed on the deer and cervid farming industry with regard to the sale; trade; and transfer of deer; both inter and intra state. I would like any regulations set in place dealing with the infectious materials from these properties including but not limited to soils, bedding materials, feces, and animal parts. I would like the records of the sales, transfers for breeding and other purposes; deaths, and purchases of all farms currently in quarantine and any farms being placed in quarantine in the future. I would also request information on urine product sales from any farm that tests positive. I would also request information on the voluntary monitoring program with regard to how many farms send in samples for each year, how many samples the agency conducts in a year and how many total cervid deaths there have been (2011 and 2012 data sets)

[galthatfishes]

Filed a second RTK and sent the following:

Deputy Secretary Meals,


Thanks for speaking with me the other evening.


I have included Kip Adams with the National Quality Deer Management Association on this email; as well as Gary Moore at the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsman's Clubs.


Kip is a certified wildlife biologist who has contacts at many state and national levels; especially concerning CWD. You said you would like to speak with him. You can contact him via email, or by calling him on his cell at XXXXXXXXX.


Gary and I are willing to serve as sportsman's contacts. The PFSC has 70,000 members and is the oldest group in PA encompassing the entire state. I have a database and access to about 9,000 sportsmen and women.


I am especially concerned that there is no ban on the use of urine based lures across the Commonwealth put forth by your office. I would hope an executive order along that line comes through quickly.


I filed the right to know requests today; and heard at least two more farms were quarantined yesterday and that there is more bad news today.


I'm looking forward to the agency's press release; keeping the one million hunters informed.


Kindest regards,


Kathy Davis

[wentzler]

Kathy, I just finished reading all posts re: this subject. Again thank you for your efforts. A question is raised in my mind, based on the statement that perhaps 47 % of CO's muledeer population is infected. Does that mean natural reproduction is running just ahead/even/behind the death rate? It was my understanding that the disease has most likely existed in western cervids for millinium, and simply not 'discovered' until science was able to isolate the prions?

[wentzler]

BTW, Denny...I've been on the hot side of 'your firewall' since before we met:)

[galthatfishes]

Ed. Since the incubation is 11 mo to 5 years they are giving birth even with the disease. Since milk can be a vector. Well ... As to recruitment I would have to ask but ii suppose it's keeping ahead since they still hunt em