Posted on 01/09/2007 1:29:41 PM PST by neverdem
When Hampshire County hunters brought in 1,335 deer to be screened for chronic wasting disease last fall, biologists figured at least a few infected animals would turn up.
One did. It was the only one.
Wildlife officials are reluctant to celebrate because the disease which creates symptoms in deer and elk similar to mad cow disease in cattle is notoriously difficult to get rid of. But Paul Johansen, Division of Natural Resources assistant wildlife chief, calls it positive news.
When youre looking for a silver lining in the whole [chronic wasting disease] scenario, this is positive news, Johansen said. Its a strong indication that the disease remains confined to a small geographic area.
All of the 10 CWD-positive deer discovered in Hampshire County were killed or found within 5 miles of Slanesville. Disease outbreaks tend to spread from their point of origin. Johansen credited emergency measures put into place by the DNR for the lack of any such movement in Hampshire County.
We feel as if the steps weve taken have had an overall positive effect, he said.
Those include an effort to lower the chance of animal-to-animal transmission by lowering the deer population itself; restrictions on feeding and baiting; and restrictions on the transportation of deer carcasses away from high-risk areas.
Our goal was to either eliminate the disease or to keep it confined to a small area, Johansen said. Im not saying that we can eliminate it. Theres no evidence that any state has been able to do that. But we like the way the trend appears to be headed.
Five infected deer were found between September and November of 2005, the year the outbreak was discovered. DNR sampling crews killed four more CWD-positive animals last spring. The lone infected deer found during the fall hunting season a 2 1/2-year-old buck killed in November represented a low-water mark in biologists efforts to determine the outbreaks true extent.
DNR Director Frank Jezioro praised Hampshire Countys landowners and hunters for aiding the agencys disease-management effort.
Landowner and hunter cooperation throughout this entire CWD-surveillance effort has been just terrific, Jezioro said. As we strive to meet this challenge and implement appropriate management strategies, the support and involvement of landowners and hunters will continue to be essential.
Even if DNR officials succeed in containing or eradicating the outbreak, they might never learn how the disease got started.
Thats the $64,000 question, said assistant chief Johansen. Im quite confident, based on our knowledge of the disease and how it spreads, that it didnt just occur spontaneously.
He cited three possible sources the release of a diseased animal from a captive-deer facility, the careless disposal of a CWD-infected carcass brought in from another state, or some unknown hunters use of doe-in-estrus scent obtained from the urine of a diseased deer.
At this point, all we have are hypotheses, he added. Well probably never know for sure. The important thing is to stay on top of the outbreak and to try to keep it contained. So far, it looks as if were accomplishing that.
To contact staff writer John McCoy, use e-mail or call 348-1231.
I heard it has pretty much settled down to parts of Washington DC, and most capitols in the USA.
Does this mean it is no longer chronic?
Probably came from a deer farm. "Sportsman" who are too lazy or busy to scout a good location plunk down thousands of dollars to shoot a farm raised deer...There's big money in deer farming. They auction off the bucks with big racks(and doe that produced them).
I'm doing my part to help control Ohio's deer. One arrow at a time...
when its all said and done I think we'll find PETA behind CWD in deer
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