The Pennsylvania Game Commission is reacting strongly after the first case of Chronic Wasting Disease in deer was found in the state last week.
This is an alarming situation for the Game Commission and for hunters. Chronic Wasting Disease is fatal for deer and PA just became the 32nd state to have a deer test positive for it.
“We knew CWD was out there,” stated Barry Leonard of the PA Game Commission. “They’ve been battling it in other states for years. We knew it would at some point come to PA. We just didn’t know when or where.”
But now we do. Last week a deer in Adams County that was born and raised in captivity tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease.
CWD is a condition where abnormal proteins form in a deer's brain and kill it. It is spread through urine, saliva and feces. There is no known cure. But fortunately, humans cannot get it even if we eat the meat of an infected deer.
“Any deer that this deer came in contact with has a potential for carrying the disease,” continued Leonard.
With that in mind, the Game Commission has set up a 600 square mile Disease Management Area in parts of York and Adams Counties. They also set up a testing station in New Berlin.
Sportsman can take their harvested deer for testing. In the DMA, sportsmen are now banned from feeding deer or using urine scented attractants. Also certain parts of a deer harvested in the area cannot be removed.
“It’s very alarming because it is a fatal disease,” added Leonard. “There’s no known treatment or cure for it. So if a deer contracts it it’s doomed to death.”
Any hunter, right now, who harvests a deer in the DMA is strongly recommended to have the deer tested. But when rifle season begins it will be mandatory to test the deer. The Game Commission will pay the $25 to $50 fee. The testing will last at least five years if no other deer test positive.
This is an alarming situation for the Game Commission and for hunters. Chronic Wasting Disease is fatal for deer and PA just became the 32nd state to have a deer test positive for it.
“We knew CWD was out there,” stated Barry Leonard of the PA Game Commission. “They’ve been battling it in other states for years. We knew it would at some point come to PA. We just didn’t know when or where.”
But now we do. Last week a deer in Adams County that was born and raised in captivity tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease.
CWD is a condition where abnormal proteins form in a deer's brain and kill it. It is spread through urine, saliva and feces. There is no known cure. But fortunately, humans cannot get it even if we eat the meat of an infected deer.
“Any deer that this deer came in contact with has a potential for carrying the disease,” continued Leonard.
With that in mind, the Game Commission has set up a 600 square mile Disease Management Area in parts of York and Adams Counties. They also set up a testing station in New Berlin.
Sportsman can take their harvested deer for testing. In the DMA, sportsmen are now banned from feeding deer or using urine scented attractants. Also certain parts of a deer harvested in the area cannot be removed.
“It’s very alarming because it is a fatal disease,” added Leonard. “There’s no known treatment or cure for it. So if a deer contracts it it’s doomed to death.”
Any hunter, right now, who harvests a deer in the DMA is strongly recommended to have the deer tested. But when rifle season begins it will be mandatory to test the deer. The Game Commission will pay the $25 to $50 fee. The testing will last at least five years if no other deer test positive.