New York State Confirms an Isolated Detection of Chronic Wasting Disease in DEC’S Region 6

[nywaw]

https://dec.ny.gov/news/press-releases/2024/10/new-york-state-confirms-an-isolated-detection-of-chronic-wasting-disease-in-decs-region-6

DEC Enhances Surveillance Efforts and Reminds Hunters to Remain Vigilant to Prevent Spread of CWD to Wild Deer

The New York State Departments of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) and Environmental Conservation (DEC), in coordination with the State Department of Health (DOH), today announced a confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a facility in DEC’s Region 6 area. The state is now implementing New York State’s interagency CWD Response Plan (PDF) developed jointly by DEC and AGM to thoroughly investigate this detection and enhance surveillance of wild deer in the area.

CWD is a transmissible disease that affects the brain and central nervous system of certain deer, elk, and moose. At this time, the threat to public health is low. Although there is no strong evidence that CWD can infect humans, people should not consume meat from infected animals. More information about CWD can be found at DEC’s website and DOH’s website.

The sample was collected as part of routine surveillance conducted by AGM, and the case was confirmed through testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories. State and federal agency partners are continuing to investigate this detection and take actions to prevent the potential spread of CWD in New York State.

While there is no evidence that CWD is present in wild deer at this time, DEC will initiate enhanced surveillance in wild deer working with local hunters, processors, and taxidermists in the area. Efforts are also underway to collect roadkill to determine if CWD is present in wild deer. This enhanced sampling and monitoring will inform additional actions to guide the state’s disease management strategy.

Hunters and members of the public are encouraged to report any sick or dying deer, including roadkill deer, in the Region 6 area to DEC for possible collection and testing by contacting DEC’s Region 6 Wildlife Office at 315-785-2263 or email at Information.R6@dec.ny.gov

As CWD continues to spread in other states, hunters have great responsibility to prevent CWD introduction to New York’s wild deer population. CWD is always fatal to deer and if introduced to wild populations, may spread rapidly, and is nearly impossible to eliminate once established. Hunters can help protect New York's deer herd from CWD by following these tips:

• If hunting any type of deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of New York, debone the harvest before bringing it back to the state. DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported carcasses and parts;
• Avoid deer urine-based lures or attractant scents, as these could contain infectious material. If using lures, use synthetics;
• Dispose of carcass waste in a landfill, not out on the landscape;
• Contact the nearest DEC regional wildlife office or Environmental Conservation Police Officer to report a deer that appears sick, unusually thin, or behaves abnormally; and
• Hunt only wild deer and support fair chase hunting principles
• Do not consume game that appears sick or diseased.

New York State will keep the public informed as the CWD surveillance efforts continue and additional information will be provided as it is available.

DEC began CWD monitoring efforts in 2002 and intensified the effort in 2005 after CWD was confirmed in both captive and wild deer in Oneida County – the first incidents of the disease in New York State. Since that time, DEC has tested more than 65,000 wild deer statewide with no additional cases discovered in New York.

Contact for this Page

Jeff Wernick
Press Office
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

Phone: 518-402-8000

PressOffice@dec.ny.gov

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Region 6 - Western Adirondacks/Eastern Lake Ontario

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[Bucksnbows]

NY’s second time dealing with CWD. Sucks, but deer farms are often the culprits. 

[Robhuntandfish]

FSW place for sure- #karma

Edited October 28, 2024 by Robhuntandfish

[Robhuntandfish]

I remember having to bring deer to check stations in Oneida County when they had the issue years ago.  Guys with big bucks were pissed cause they took the head.  I shot a spike horn but was in line and a guy in front of me was losing his mind as he had to leave the head of his 12 point.....I guarantee the reporting numbers were in the tank that year.   Youd get it back a couple of weeks later or they would saw the horns off for you there. 

DEC also shot like 200 deer in the area for testing. 

Edited October 28, 2024 by Robhuntandfish

[nywaw]

Is it possible to identify the source if it was a game farm?

[Robhuntandfish]

3 minutes ago, nywaw said:

Is it possible to identify the source if it was a game farm?

most of the reports I saw say it was a "captive " deer.  So could be a game farm, petting zoo, wildlife rehab etc.  havent seen anything on exactly where. 

[Lawdwaz]

4 minutes ago, nywaw said:

Is it possible to identify the source if it was a game farm?

It was a game farm but for privacy reasons they may not divulge what one?

[2BuckBizCT]

Hopefully doesn't spread like EHD? Parts of SENY and CT had EHD bad a few years back. It decimated the population.

[Caeden4]

oh shit. im really shocked that its not prevalent here though, seeing as how much movement there is back and forth along the PA border. 

i didnt realize we even had the issue in the past. how did they contain it then?

i've got one doe - the one with the twin fawns, who everytime i see her i think "damn shes skin and bones." she is otherwise fine, and i chalk it up to having twins lol shes been thin since they were born and just seems like shes not putting on weight, but also isnt losing it or showing any sign of poor health otherwise. i keep an eye on her though, because that is always my fear..

 

[Chef]

40 minutes ago, Robhuntandfish said:

FSW place for sure- #karma

Hahaha I was going to say the same thing.

 

i wouldn't be shocked 

[escpen]

17 minutes ago, 2BuckBizCT said:

Hopefully doesn't spread like EHD? Parts of SENY and CT had EHD bad a few years back. It decimated the population.

No - completely different. EHD has a more drastic near-term impact. CWD is more of a slow burn, but has long-term implications that are not good (or so they say).  Based on what I’ve read / heard about it, I’d rather deal with periodic EHD than to have CWD in the wild deer population. 

[grampy]

38 minutes ago, Robhuntandfish said:

FSW place for sure- #karma

 

3 minutes ago, Chef said:

Hahaha I was going to say the same thing.

 

i wouldn't be shocked 

I could definitely see old Mullet Head the Mayor, being the one with a contaminated deer on the property! Good for him! He used to say CWD was a made up illness. 

[Robhuntandfish]

29 minutes ago, Caeden4 said:

oh shit. im really shocked that its not prevalent here though, seeing as how much movement there is back and forth along the PA border. 

i didnt realize we even had the issue in the past. how did they contain it then?

i've got one doe - the one with the twin fawns, who everytime i see her i think "damn shes skin and bones." she is otherwise fine, and i chalk it up to having twins lol shes been thin since they were born and just seems like shes not putting on weight, but also isnt losing it or showing any sign of poor health otherwise. i keep an eye on her though, because that is always my fear..

 

it was at one spot and no other issues ever found. They didnt really have anything to do with containment.  It was found at a wild game dinner in Verona and it was also captive deer. 

https://cwd-info.org/chronic-wasting-disease-found-in-oneida-county-wild-deer/

[Splitear]

25 minutes ago, grampy said:

 

I could definitely see old Mullet Head the Mayor, being the one with a contaminated deer on the property! Good for him! He used to say CWD was a made up illness. 

It is in his district, I think he’s Jefferson county. 

[2BuckBizCT]

3 minutes ago, Splitear said:

It is in his district, I think he’s Jefferson county. 

Evan Mills