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Posted on 12/12/2021 5:40:53 AM PST by Alas Babylon!
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Wildlife officials in several states are warning of new cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer, and issuing guidance for hunters.
According to Shane Hesting, wildlife disease coordinator with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the disease could threaten the future of one of the state’s most popular industries.
“CWD has the potential to ruin hunting as we know it over time,” Hesting said. “This is going to take a long time…decades. There are a lot of questions whether we’re going to have localized extinction, which would be 50, 60 years from now. But, more likely, we’re going to see the older animals disappear from the population.”
CWD can be found in deer, elk and moose. The disease is caused by prions, an infectious agent, spreading through bodily fluids or nose-to-nose contact, damaging portions of the animal’s brain once they’re infected. It typically causes gradual loss of body condition, like significant weight loss, behavioral changes, excessive salivation, and death.
Limited surveillance of the disease in deer dates back to the 1990’s. But, Hesting said, since then, the number of deer infected has grown “exponentially.”
“As it progresses and becomes entrenched in the population, the prevalence of CWD is going up, and we’re seeing more and more numbers of deer infected with the disease,” Hesting said.
Hesting said, to date, the state has sampled about 30,000 deer, with about 548 that have been positive. However, that number is increasing rapidly.
Kansas is not alone when it comes to CWD.
Tennessee officials recently identified the deadly condition in a 12th county. So far, the condition has only been found in West Tennessee. Officials have rolled out new regulations on the transport of carcasses, feeding and deer mineral sites. They are also urging hunters not to eat meat from a sick deer.
In Louisiana, officials have created a contest with prizes of $500 or $1,000 in hopes of expanding their monitoring efforts. The rewards will go to hunters and taxidermists who submit deer samples with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
In Illinois, deer check stations in counties with CWD will once again be open during this year’s hunting season.
The disease has also been detected in Arkansas, South Dakota and Pennsylvania, among other states.
Prevention Efforts According to Hesting, hunters should also take steps to prevent the disease from spreading.
“What we’re asking hunters to do is not move carcasses from where they kill animals,” Hesting said. “Leave those carcasses where they kill animals, so they keep the prions in the infected areas. The prions are in the spinal cord, in the brain, and any nervous tissue. So, the more you can leave that behind and not take it to a new area, the more you can prevent CWD from moving faster than it will naturally.”
The prevalence of the disease has also led others to take extra precautions.
Lisa Keith, director of David Traylor Zoo in Emporia, Kansas, said her zoo has put several measures in place to protect her mule deer population, which is already rare to see in her community.
“Mule Deer are popular just because it’s not something you’re going to see in Lyon County,” she said. “You’re going to find them more in Western Kansas or in the northern states. It’s fun for people to see.”
The zoo has a 30 to 60 day quarantine period in place for new animals, which also go through testing during that time before they’re introduced to the herd. Zookeepers keep all their tools within the exhibit, so no outside contaminants get in. In addition, they’ve put a barrier around the perimeter, so wild animals can’t come in contact with the deer.
“It’s just a very scary disease. They stumble, they may act a little different than normal. Unfortunately, for the animal, it’s fatal,” Keith said.
So far, the disease hasn’t jumped from deer to humans, but officials are urging hunters to test their kill when possible and to avoid eating any contaminated meat.
Unless they get booster #3. That should fix them up.
Sad fact—there is no cure
I guess there isn’t enough money in it for research? But as with all diseases in nature, the strongest will survive.
All the deer have to do is mask up!
Solves everything.
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This is related to mad cow, but is much more easily transmitted. These prions are scary, and I think that at some time in the future they will become a very big problem.
Gotta be caused by climate change. For sure.
Here,I’ll translate: “Waaaahh! The Trump-loving deplorables are out killing Bambi! We need something to whip up fear, to keep them out of the woods, like COVID-19 kept the proles out of the churches! CWD! Yeah, that’s the ticket! Scare ‘em that if they eat ANY ‘deer meat’, that they will get brain damage!”
“”Limited surveillance of the disease in deer dates back to the 1990’s. But, Hesting said, since then, the number of deer infected has grown “exponentially.””
Couple of things to remember here CWD didn’t just start in the 90’s, it’s always been around and the Whitetail population is higher than it’s ever been.
Prions are serious business.
CWD in Idaho deer as well
Deer hunters deal with this type of stuff all the time
To Fauci and friends that sounds like a challenge...
And it’s very likely it can and does spread to humans.
Here’re some fun to read articles:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy
Prions are one of nature’s own population controllers.
Something that’s bothered me since living in Germany 35-40 years ago.
I can’t donate blood because of BSE and I ate meat while living there.
If the American Red Cross/blood banks still exclude people like me there’s some validity to the idea these prions are still affecting us, or can. We know they do, but if the threat from BSE is real, where are all the cases in humans?
Could explain the prevalence of Dementiacrats and general global societal decay.
Won’t keep me from eating meat. Vegans are just nuts. (JMHO)
here in michiganstan, we have been dealing with this for decades.. so far it has been contained to several area’s..
bait bans and the limited removal of carcasses has pretty much kept it in check.
I say the only way is to eradicate the herd in the infected area. sounds cruel, but slow starvation is even more cruel
There is an exponential human brain infection of some sort on this planet. Look at democrats, moslems and communists
Anytime there is an overpopulation in the animal world a virus seems to materialize and thin out the population. I have seen this happen in the rabbit overpopulation in the past. With out extreme over population in the deer numbers maybe the same thing is happening.
It happens in man too but we strive to control it. The Black Plague is a good example.
I lean toward your thinking. Taking control of the food supply being the goal.
The deer population has exploded here this year. They look healthy, knock on wood.
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