|
|
Post by galthatfishes on Oct 23, 2012 9:39:43 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by galthatfishes on Oct 23, 2012 9:41:03 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by galthatfishes on Oct 23, 2012 10:24:05 GMT -5
Amazing. Th PA Deer Farmers Association has NO NEWS on their web site relating to any of this. www.padfa.com/news/Posted this to their website home page 10/25/12 URGENT CRITICAL ISSUE To whom it may concern, Early last week before it was announced, our Association received a phone call regarding the first found case of CWD in Pennsylvania. On October 11th, the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture, Health and the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced the first confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The case was found on a captive herd farm in Adams County. The specimen was a whitetail Doe. The Department released the included press article. It is important that you know more information, because this will change your operations, commerce and disease management within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Moreover, it will likely change how the states throughout the nation will view our deer. The Departments are gathering more information and have committed to keeping the Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association as a partner in this urgent matter. You will play an important role moving forward. Please do not spread non-factual information. In other states, the rumor mill has made CWD a disastrous economic issue. I am asking that you help all deer farms in Pennsylvania, including yours, by lowering the rhetoric and keeping conversations to facts. As facts become available, our Board of Directors and its staff will be responsible for disseminating the information. If you need to know more or have questions that must be answered, please keep your emails or phone calls to those responsible for gathering and maintaining the facts. If you are not a member of the Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association, an application has been included. Only members of the Association will receive benefit of continual updates regarding Pennsylvania’s CWD status. I urge you to join today. This issue will have a direct impact on your business. I implore non-members to join immediately and remain members throughout the next few years. George Hazard President PDFA |
|
|
|
Post by dennyf on Oct 24, 2012 8:54:01 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2012 14:26:18 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2012 14:27:14 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2012 14:28:11 GMT -5
GAME COMMISSION DESIGNATES DISEASE MANAGEMENT AREA IN RESPONSE TO CWD CONFIRMATION ON DEER FARM IN ADAMS COUNTY Deer feeding banned in DMA; check station established for hunters in DMA HARRISBURG – In a continuing response to the recent confirmation of Pennsylvania’s first case of chronic wasting disease of a captive-born and raised deer on a farm in Adams County, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today issued an Executive Order outlining a disease management area (DMA), which carries special restrictions in relation to deer within the DMA. While a map has been posted on the Game Commission’s website, the boundaries of the DMA are described below, and encompass a nearly 600-square-mile area of Adams and York counties. Read more: www.pfsc.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=disease&action=display&thread=480#ixzz2AR26RHDg |
|
|
|
Post by flounder on Oct 26, 2012 14:43:45 GMT -5
Dreaded deer killer Chronic Wasting Disease arrives in Pa.: How bad? What's next? Oct. 23, 2012, 9:19 a.m. EDT The Intelligencer Journal snip... "We have always had our focus on the captive population because it's such a huge risk factor" says Dr. Walter Cottrell the Game Commission's wildlife veterinarian and a member of the state's CWD Interagency Task Force. Captive farms have been eyed warily because deer are bartered and sold from all over the country. snip... Yet another unknown being investigated is whether urine was collected from the infected doe or surrounding captive deer for sale as a commercial deer attractant lure. snip... Included in such a ban would be salt licks and mineral blocks that congregate deer and encourage them to bite and chew at the soil for years. Wolfgang also wants to see a statewide ban on use of deer urine products. "Some scientists now wonder if the wide distribution of doe urine might be partly responsible for the spread of CWD from the West to the East" he observes. Cottrell is of the same mind but knows a deer lure ban likely would be challenged in court. www.pennlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/dreaded-deer-killer-chronic-wasting-disease-arrives-in-pa-how-bad-whats-next/b20e60651a6a4c28a093e1a1be38950a Thursday, October 11, 2012 Pennsylvania Confirms First Case CWD Adams County Captive Deer Tests Positive chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2012/10/pennsylvania-confirms-first-case-cwd.html Monday, October 15, 2012 PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION AND AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS CWD MONITORING EFFORTS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 15, 2012 Release #124-12 chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2012/10/pennsylvania-game-commission-and.html Pennsylvania CWD number of deer exposed and farms there from much greater than first thought Published: Wednesday, October 17, 2012, 10:44 PM Updated: Wednesday, October 17, 2012, 11:33 PM chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2012/10/pennsylvania-cwd-number-of-deer-exposed.html Tuesday, October 23, 2012 PA Captive deer from CWD-positive farm roaming free chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2012/10/pa-captive-deer-from-cwd-positive-farm.html see full text ; Friday, October 26, 2012 CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD PENNSYLVANIA GAME FARMS, URINE ATTRACTANT PRODUCTS, BAITING, AND MINERAL LICKS chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2012/10/chronic-wasting-disease-cwd.html kind regards, terry |
|
|
|
Post by melody on Oct 27, 2012 13:36:19 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by galthatfishes on Oct 29, 2012 13:08:45 GMT -5
Venesky hit the nail on the head with this one.
CWD threat to our wild deer is only growing
Posted on October 29, 2012
Tom Venesky
It's all very disturbing.
Since a captive deer from an Adams County farm was determined to have chronic wasting disease on Oct. 10, there have been a few developments that really haven't reduced the threat of the disease entering into the wild population.
In fact, that risk has increased, in my opinion.
Last week, when shooters from the state and federal agriculture departments went to the Adams County farm to put down the remaining 10 deer so they could be tested, one escaped. Busted through a fence and took off into the wild. As of Friday, it had yet to be found, according to state Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Samantha Krepps.
It's not know if the deer has CWD, which is spread easily through the population. But considering the deer inhabited the same property as the one that perished from the disease, there's a chance. It's scary to think that a potentially-infected deer is running free, likely coming in contact with wild deer -- a situation that is highly likely with the rut entering full swing.
It makes me wonder how the deer escaped in the first place. Captive deer are frequently shipped from farm to farm, so they're used to being herded and moved. Couldn't there have been a better, more controlled way to euthanize the deer rather than shooting?
The other development that's disturbing is the agriculture department has acknowledged that the infected deer could have been in contact with other captive deer that have been moved around to as many as 100 farms in the state. Krepps said the department is working to track all of those deer, but in the meantime there is no prohibition on farms in the state moving deer around.
Just a recommendation, Krepps said.
And that's just as scary as the escaped deer running loose.
Think about it. There could be other CWD-infected deer on farms throughout the state, being bought, sold and moved all over.
A temporary ban on transporting captive deer in the state needs to be enacted until this situation is resolved.
|
|
|
|
Post by melody on Nov 1, 2012 17:30:22 GMT -5
Expert: Hunters taking Lycoming deer should have them tested for CWDFriday, October 26, 2012 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The three-year-old doe that recently was found to be Pennsylvania's first case of chronic wasting disease was born on a deer farm near Williamsport, Pa. live.psu.edu/story/62294#email
|
|
|
|
Post by melody on Nov 2, 2012 9:28:07 GMT -5
Sugarloaf deer farm quarantined
Deer from farm may have come into contact with diseased animal.
TOM VENESKY, Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader –
Nov. 2, 2012
A deer farm in Sugarloaf has been quarantined by the state Department of Agriculture as the agency determines locations that may possess deer that had contact with an Adams County farm where an animal tested positive for chronic wasting disease on Oct. 12.
The disease is fatal to cervids, such as deer and elk, but has not been found to be transmittable to humans. The disease is spread via contact between animals or through the soil where CWD prions can exist indefinitely.
The department released the updated list late Thursday and it includes 21 farms. The Sugarloaf farm is located on Prospect Road. Other farms on the list include one in Danville and another in Montoursville.
The quarantine prohibits owners from moving deer off the farm to another site.
Chris Denmon, president of the North Mountain Branch of the Quality Deer Management Association and the Conservation Coalition, said the quarantine of the Sugarloaf farm is a concern because of the threat it poses to wild deer. So far, no wild deer in the state have tested positive for CWD.
“If this disease progresses it could be devastating, especially if deer escape from these farms under the quarantine” Denmon said. “Even without an escape, it may still be possible for wild deer to get up close to the fences and contact the deer inside.”
With archery season currently underway and the state’s two-week rifle deer season set to begin Nov. 26, Denmon advised hunters to take precautions such as wearing rubber gloves when field-dressing deer.
“Also pay attention to how a deer is acting before you shoot it,” Denmon said. “Look for signs that it may be infected, such as droopy ears or acting lethargic.”
During an Oct. 17 public meeting, an official with the agriculture department estimated that as many as 100 farms could be impacted by the CWD finding. According to the department, there are more than 1,100 farms in the state that possess cervids such as deer and elk. The department is continuing to trace all farms in the state with animals that may have had direct or indirect contact with the Adams County location.
|
|
|
|
Post by dennyf on Nov 2, 2012 10:48:09 GMT -5
Interesting meeting this morning with PDA and PGC, on the continuing CWD saga. About thirty in attendance, perhaps 18 actual invitees, many of whom asked questions. Matt Hough, Cal Dubrock and Dr. Cottrell for PGC. Meals and Dr. Schultz, for PDA. The rest were mostly PDA. And two USDA staffers, including a vet, Dr. Bowers. She was gracious enough to guide me to the meeting location, after telling me I could park in the USDA lot out front.
PFSC(Gary and I), QDMA(Tim and Rick), two elk farmers, one deer farmer, Pres. of the PA taxidermists assn; Dr. Wolfgang, PSU vet; Jeff Grove from PA Farm Bureau; Rep. Moul and some that I didn't catch what their affiliation was.
Quick update: There are now 21 deer farms under quarantine; Of the 9 deer killed at the New Oxford location where the dead deer tested positive for CWD in early October, 8 came back "CWD undetected", one is still being subjected to further testing. And of course, the one doe that escaped from that New Oxford pen on Oct. 18 while the rest were killed, is still on the loose.
I asked Dr. Schultz (PDA vet), if they are following the same protocols for dealing with CWD, as they would for any disease affecting domestic livestock. He assured me that they are.
|
|
|
|
Post by galthatfishes on Nov 2, 2012 12:47:26 GMT -5
Bull. If this were a bse they would have quarantined all cattle farms till they were sure. TSEs are all nightmares waiting to happen
There may only be one million hunters but our families and friends also enjoy deer.
|
|
|
|
Post by bowhawk on Nov 4, 2012 18:20:16 GMT -5
Quick update: There are now 21 deer farms under quarantine;
Chronic Wasting Disease
Quarantined Deer Farms
Updated: Nov. 1. 2012
Ronald Rutters, 1491 New Chester Road, New Oxford, PA
Bryan Rutters, Rut Acres, 61 Pickett Road, Dover, PA
Bryan Rutters, Rut Acres, 295 Bremer Road, Dover, PA
Mike Schilling, Lost Mtn Whitetails, 6464 Jacks Hollow Road, Williamsport, PA
William Noll, Noll’s Whitetails, 8029 Molly Pitcher Highway, Shippensburg, PA
Harry Eichelberger, Bud’s Place, 5032 Eichelberger Lane, Spring Grove, PA
Matthew Anthony, Anthony Whitetail Ranch, 830 Woodel Road, Grampian, PA
Carl Rockey, 1305 New Chester Road, New Oxford, PA
Troy Luckenbaugh, Harvest Acres, 170 Dicks Dam Road, New Oxford, PA
Zachary N. Nelson, Cole Creek Whitetails, 80 Bordell Cross Road, Smethport, PA
Dwain Koser, Kauffman, Bradly/Koser’s Whitetail Trophy II, 1309 Private Oak Lane,
Shippensburg, PA
Dwain Koser, Koser’s Trophy Whitetails, 46 Springfield Road, Shippensburg, PA
Garth Book, Book Whitetails’, 240 Prospect Road, Sugarloaf, PA
John Ficks, III, Nittany Mountain Hunting Preserve, 2980 Millers Bottom Road, New
Columbia, PA
John Ficks, III, Fick’s Whitetails
Kenneth Erway, Spring Hollow Farms Pen 1 (Whitetail Country), 5914 Route 287,
Wellsboro, PA
Larry Pittenger, Thunder Valley Whitetails, 4733 Warrensville Road, Montoursville, PA
Ronald Truitt, 1135 Carriage Road, Fairmont City, PA
John McAdam, Endless Mountain Whitetails, 953 Old Bernice Road, Mildred, PA
Josh Blyler, J & L Whitetails, 7 Scenic Road, Klingerstown, PA
Denis Beachel, Power View Whitetails, 390 Fairview Road, Danville, PA
|
|
|
|
Post by dougell on Nov 5, 2012 16:38:40 GMT -5
Garth Book was a roommate of mine in College for several years.I saw him a few years ago at a wedding but had no idea he'd gotten into the deer breeding business.I googled him and apparently he's into it pretty deep.
|
|
|
|
Post by flounder on Nov 6, 2012 10:57:47 GMT -5
Department of Agriculture investigating possible 2nd case of chronic wasting disease Published: Tuesday, November 6, 2012, 12:01 a.m. Updated 10 hours ago Pennsylvania may have its second case of chronic wasting disease. Officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture expect to know by Tuesday or Wednesday whether a second animal from a captive deer farm in New Oxford, Adams County, had the disease. snip... Tests revealed seven of those deer were negative for the disease. The eighth, though, came back as “suspect, which means we sent it off to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for confirmation,” said Matthew Meals, deputy secretary of the department. If the “suspect” deer is confirmed as having wasting disease, it won’t lead to any immediate action, Meals said. triblive.com/sports/2866235-74/deer-department-disease-agriculture-cwd-case-pennsylvania-wasting-farm-meals#axzz2BSP7hPFUchronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/kind regards, terry |
|
|
|
Post by dennyf on Nov 6, 2012 11:24:50 GMT -5
Might be a slight error there in the number of deer remaining at the New Oxford location that were tested?
One escaped; The others were killed and submitted for testing. IIRC, that was a total of 9 remaining deer, with one showing preliminary signs of a potential CWD positive and the other 8 coming back as "undetected"?
However, IF those 8 were indeed exposed, it may be a case of CWD not having progressed enough in them yet, to come back as "detected"?? Given the length of time that it takes CWD to establish itself, I still think that is a possibility?
|
|
|
|
Post by galthatfishes on Nov 6, 2012 13:01:59 GMT -5
What I find amazing is not all of the farms the Adams County facility has sold to have been quarantined. At least; that is what I'm hearing.
Also, the Deputy Secretary didn't address the false negatives they obtain; yet he DID take the time to address the false positives that may result.
While I'm nit-picking; I'd like to see Ag get the fence back up at York.
|
|
|
|
Post by dennyf on Nov 6, 2012 18:05:55 GMT -5
As of last Friday's CWD Task Force meeting, the official response from AG, was that the fence would be up "soon". One wonders is it's up yet, or if was up "soon enough"?  |
|
|
|
Post by flounder on Nov 7, 2012 11:34:55 GMT -5
press release Nov. 7, 2012, 11:19 a.m. EST Second Adams County Deer Tests Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today confirmed the state's second positive case of Chronic Wasting Disease on a deer farm in Adams County. Other deer on the farm that were tested did not have the disease. The second deer, a white-tailed buck, tested positive at 1491 New Chester Road, New Oxford. This is the same location of the state's first infected deer in October. In addition to the New Oxford farm, the agriculture department quarantined 27 farms in 16 counties associated with the positive samples. Deer cannot be moved on or off quarantined properties. The Pennsylvania Game Commission established a disease management area (DMA) surrounding the Adams County farm where the deer tested positive. As part of that plan, hunters may not move high-risk deer parts out of the area, including parts of the head and spinal column. "Since the first positive deer was found in Pennsylvania last month, the Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force has put in place aggressive measures to prevent further spread of the disease," Agriculture Secretary George Greig said. "This positive deer was found because of those efforts, and we will continue our work to protect the state's captive and wild deer populations." The Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force meets weekly and carries out a response plan, including education and outreach through public meetings and minimizing risk factors through continued surveillance, testing and management. Task Force members are from the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture, Health and Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Geological Survey/Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Penn State University. Hunters who harvest a deer within the DMA during the two-week firearms deer season (Nov. 26-Dec. 8) are required to bring their deer to a mandatory check station so samples can be collected for testing. For the convenience of hunters, all cooperating deer processors within the DMA boundaries will be considered check stations. The Game Commission will be gathering samples from hunter-killed deer at those processors. A list of cooperating deer processors and taxidermists from within the area will be announced and posted on the commission's website. Hunters who harvest a deer within the DMA and who process their own deer, or who would like to take their deer to a processor or taxidermist outside of the management area, can visit the Game Commission operated check station. It is located at the agency's maintenance building on State Game Land 249, 1070 Lake Meade Road, East Berlin, Adams County. GPS coordinates for the building are -77.07280 and 39.97018. Game Commission check station hours during the two-week rifle deer season are from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, but will remain open as needed. The check station will be closed on Sunday, Dec. 2. Deer harvested outside of the management area will not be eligible for testing at the check station; however, hunters may get their deer tested by the Department of Agriculture's Veterinary Laboratory in Harrisburg, for a fee. Interested hunters should call 717-787-8808. Chronic Wasting disease attacks the brains of infected antlered animals such as deer, elk and moose, producing small lesions that eventually result in death. Animals can get the disease through direct contact with saliva, feces and urine from an infected animal. There is no evidence that humans or livestock can get the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms include weight loss, excessive salivation, increased drinking and urination, and abnormal behavior like stumbling, trembling and depression. Infected deer and elk may also allow unusually close approach by humans or natural predators. The disease is fatal and there is no known treatment or vaccine. Surveillance for the disease has been ongoing in Pennsylvania since 1998. The agriculture department coordinates a mandatory monitoring program for more than 23,000 captive deer on 1,100 breeding farms, hobby farms and shooting preserves. The Game Commission collects samples from hunter-harvested deer and elk and those that appear sick or behave abnormally. Since 1998, the commission has tested more than 38,000 free-ranging deer and elk for the disease and all have tested negative. For more information, visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on the "Chronic Wasting Disease Information" button on the homepage. Media contacts: Samantha Elliott Krepps, Agriculture, 717-787-5085Jerry Feaser, PGC, 717-705-6541 SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture www.marketwatch.com/story/second-adams-county-deer-tests-positive-for-chronic-wasting-disease-2012-11-07www.cnbc.com/id/49727429chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/kind regards, terry |
|
|
|
Post by flounder on Nov 7, 2012 13:01:34 GMT -5
News for Immediate Release Nov. 7, 2012 Second Adams County Deer Tests Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today confirmed the state’s second positive case of Chronic Wasting Disease on a deer farm in Adams County. Other deer on the farm that were tested did not have the disease. The second deer, a white-tailed buck, tested positive at 1491 New Chester Road, New Oxford. This is the same location of the state’s first infected deer in October. In addition to the New Oxford farm, the agriculture department quarantined 27 farms in 16 counties associated with the positive samples. Deer cannot be moved on or off quarantined properties. The Pennsylvania Game Commission established a disease management area (DMA) surrounding the Adams County farm where the deer tested positive. As part of that plan, hunters may not move high-risk deer parts out of the area, including parts of the head and spinal column. “Since the first positive deer was found in Pennsylvania last month, the Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force has put in place aggressive measures to prevent further spread of the disease,” Agriculture Secretary George Greig said. “This positive deer was found because of those efforts, and we will continue our work to protect the state’s captive and wild deer populations.” The Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force meets weekly and carries out a response plan, including education and outreach through public meetings and minimizing risk factors through continued surveillance, testing and management. Task Force members are from the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture, Health and Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Geological Survey/Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Penn State University. Hunters who harvest a deer within the DMA during the two-week firearms deer season (Nov. 26-Dec. 8) are required to bring their deer to a mandatory check station so samples can be collected for testing. For the convenience of hunters, all cooperating deer processors within the DMA boundaries will be considered check stations. The Game Commission will be gathering samples from hunter-killed deer at those processors. A list of cooperating deer processors and taxidermists from within the area will be announced and posted on the commission’s website. Hunters who harvest a deer within the DMA and who process their own deer, or who would like to take their deer to a processor or taxidermist outside of the management area, can visit the Game Commission operated check station. It is located at the agency’s maintenance building on State Game Land 249, 1070 Lake Meade Road, East Berlin, Adams County. GPS coordinates for the building are - 77.07280 and 39.97018. Game Commission check station hours during the two-week rifle deer season are from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, but will remain open as needed. The check station will be closed on Sunday, Dec. 2. Deer harvested outside of the management area will not be eligible for testing at the check station; however, hunters may get their deer tested by the Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Laboratory in Harrisburg, for a fee. Interested hunters should call 717-787-8808. Chronic Wasting disease attacks the brains of infected antlered animals such as deer, elk and moose, producing small lesions that eventually result in death. Animals can get the disease through direct contact with saliva, feces and urine from an infected animal. There is no evidence that humans or livestock can get the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms include weight loss, excessive salivation, increased drinking and urination, and abnormal behavior like stumbling, trembling and depression. Infected deer and elk may also allow unusually close approach by humans or natural predators. The disease is fatal and there is no known treatment or vaccine. Surveillance for the disease has been ongoing in Pennsylvania since 1998. The agriculture department coordinates a mandatory monitoring program for more than 23,000 captive deer on 1,100 breeding farms, hobby farms and shooting preserves. The Game Commission collects samples from hunter-harvested deer and elk and those that appear sick or behave abnormally. Since 1998, the commission has tested more than 38,000 free-ranging deer and elk for the disease and all have tested negative. For more information, visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on the “Chronic Wasting Disease Information” button on the homepage. Media contacts: Samantha Elliott Krepps, Agriculture, 717-787-5085 Jerry Feaser, PGC, 717-705-6541 ### www.agriculture.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_department_of_agriculture/10297/pa_agriculture_news_releases?navid=15&parentnavid=0& Wednesday, November 07, 2012 PENNSYLVANIA Second Adams County Deer Tests Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2012/11/pennsylvania-second-adams-county-deer.html |
|
|
|
Post by galthatfishes on Nov 7, 2012 21:18:26 GMT -5
Naturally Speaking #691 The Daily Herald
By Mark Nale October 30, 2012
Hunting rights activist files Right-to-Know Law requests with Agriculture Department
The chronic wasting disease story – discovered in early October in one farm-raised deer -seems to change by the hour, but one has to dig to get the story. Some members of the hunting community are unhappy with the way the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is handling the discovery and control of this disease in Pennsylvania. They are concerned, and rightfully so, with the possibility of CWD getting into the state’s wild deer and elk herds.
Ten years ago, the Pennsylvania Game Commission had authority over deer farms. However, that regulationwas taken away by the legislature in 2003 and transferred to the Department of Agriculture. The PDA is the lead agency on any issues dealing with captive deer, while the Game Commission has jurisdiction over wild deer. At the present, CWD has only been identified in one captive deer.
Both agencies issued a joint press release on October 11, detailing that a pen-raised doe in New Oxford, Adams County had tested positive for CWD, a prion-caused disease that is fatal in deer, elk and moose. As a result of the continuing PDA investigation, by the following week, three more deer farms in Adams, York and Lycoming counties were added to the list of quarantined properties. The dead doe had passed through all four facilities.
The PDA pledged to keep the public informed during their October 17 public meeting. Nevertheless, as of this writing, there have been no new press releases or public meetings regarding the situation. Since that time, the number of deer farms quarantined has grown to 12, which are spread out in Adams, Clearfield, Cumberland, Lycoming, McKean and York counties – a wide geographic area of the state.
More bad news - According to PDA Press Secretary Samantha Krepps, while officials were attempting to euthanize the nine deer remaining at the New Oxford farm, one doe wearing a yellow ear tag crashed through the fence and escaped into the wild. It is unknown whether this deer has CWD or not, because only dead deer can be tested.
According to PGC Press Secretary Jerry Feaser, Game Commission officers and U.S. Department of Agriculture agents have been given the order to take down this doe if it is seen.
“The Department of Agriculture just hasn’t been transparent,” commented hunting rights activist Kathy Davis, an active member of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Club and the Quality Deer Management Association.
“They promised to keep the public informed with regular updates, and as far as I’m concerned, that isn’t happening,” Davis said. “You would think that they would have at least had a news release about the escaped deer. It could be out there spreading CWD prions right now.”
Denny Fillmore, president of the Mechanicsburg Sportsmen Association, is also disappointed with the way the PDA is managing the discovery of CWD.
“Now we have the inevitable result of the change in oversight - taken from an agency [the PGC] that knew what it was doing and why, and then delivered into the wrong hands,” Fillmore noted.
Lancaster resident John Shutter, a Director in the Red Rose Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, does not hold deer farmers or the PA Department of Agriculture in high esteem.
“There are many rogues raising deer. The reason the deer farm lobby pressed the legislature to take control from the PGC and give it to the Department of Ag was because the PGC was serious about enforcing the regulations - particularly the inter-farm movement of deer for breeding purposes. Prosecutions were made,” stated Sutter, who led the PGC Bureau of Law Enforcement before retiring. “The deer farmers knew that Ag enforcement is a joke and practically nonexistent.”
Davis, Fillmore and Shutter all think that this situation goes way beyond poor management and reflects a lack of oversight.
Now that there are 12 farms officially quarantined, this writer asked Krepps exactly what that means and who was watching these farms to enforce the quarantine.
“No deer may be bought, sold or moved into or out of any of these facilities,” she replied.
Is anyone watching the farms – enforcing the rules?
“I hope that our deer farmers are ethical and that they abide by the rules of the quarantine,” Krepps said during a phone interview.
How would you know if they moved deer in violation of the quarantine?
“You know, I don’t even want to go there,” she said. “I’m finished with this question.”
After repeated attempts to get more information from the PA Department of Agriculture, Davis decided to move her quest for information up a notch. Using the state’s Right-to-Know law, on October 19, she filed two requests for information from the department. Among other things, her request asks for detailed reports and records from the PDA.
“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,” Davis wrote in her application. “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 of these farms.”
The PDA has received Davis’ request, and according to Davis, the department claims that it will pull manpower from the investigation to fulfill her request. As of this writing, Davis and the PDA are communicating.
Krepps acknowledged that the request involved a lot of documents.
“I would just like them to keep the hunters informed and do their job - containing CWD before it spreads into our wild deer,” Davis explained. “The hunting of deer generated a lot more business and tax revenue for the state than deer farming ever will.”
Mark Nale can be contacted
at MarkAngler@aol.com
|
|
|
|
Post by dennyf on Nov 7, 2012 22:55:20 GMT -5
Spent about 20 minutes at tonight's club meeting, updating the 50 or so members in attendance on the latest CWD developments. Also encouraged them to take a PGC brochure and EO/DMA Map, which many did.
In the past week I've delivered stacks of those PGC handouts to Bass Pro in Harrisburg, to Dick's Sporting Goods in the Mechanicsburg area and to the hunting/fishing counter at the Mechanicsburg Walmart.
The Walmart manager said he'd give me a call if they run out, because he wants them in the store. He's also a member of our sportsmen's club.
|
|
|
|
Post by galthatfishes on Nov 8, 2012 7:02:15 GMT -5
Good for you Denny. Maybe one of them will whack that doe if they see it.
|
|
