MDC reminds public to not feed deer in CWD counties

Regulation banning feeding deer in 29 counties starts May 30.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds landowners, deer hunters, and others that a regulation banning the feeding of deer becomes effective on May 30 for 29 counties in north-central, central, and east-central Missouri.

Grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable products used to attract deer are now prohibited year-round in the following 29 counties: Adair, Boone, Callaway, Carroll, Chariton, Crawford, Cole, Cooper, Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Putnam, St. Charles, St. Louis, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Washington, and Warren.  

Exceptions to the regulation include feeding wildlife within 100 feet of any residence or occupied building, feed placed in a manner that excludes access by deer, and feed and minerals used solely for normal agricultural, forest management, or wildlife food-plot-production practices.

The feeding ban is one step MDC is taking to limit the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease that infects only deer and other members of the deer family. The disease has no vaccine or cure and is 100-percent fatal. CWD is spread from deer to deer and the potential for transmission increases when deer gather in larger, concentrated numbers, such as at feeding sites.

The 29 counties affected by the feeding ban comprise the Department’s CWD Management Zone. The zone consists of counties within or that touch a radius of approximately 25 miles from where CWD has been found. According to MDC, 33 free-ranging deer in Missouri have tested positive for the disease with 21 found in Macon County, 9 in Adair, one in Cole, one in Franklin, and one in Linn.

Other MDC actions to limit the spread of CWD

The ban on feeding deer is one of several actions MDC is taking to help limit the spread of CWD. MDC also collects tissue samples from several thousand harvested, sick, and road-killed wild deer around the state each year to test for CWD. The sampling efforts focus both on areas where CWD has been found and on broader, statewide testing.

The Department will increase its CWD sampling and testing efforts in north-central, central, and east-central Missouri this fall by requiring hunters who harvest deer in one of the 29 CWD-Management-Zone counties during the opening weekend of the fall firearms deer season (Nov. 12 and 13) to present their deer (or the head with at least six inches of the neck intact) for CWD testing at one of 75 MDC sampling locations on the day of harvest. The testing is free and hunters can also get free test results. Sampling locations will be listed in the Department’s 2016 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet and online at mdc.mo.gov.

MDC has also removed the antler-point restriction in all CWD-Management-Zone counties starting this fall so young bucks are no longer protected from harvest. Young bucks can potentially spread the disease to new areas as they search for territories and mates.

The Department has also increased the availability of firearms antlerless permits from 1 to 2 in all CWD-Management-Zone counties starting this fall to help prevent undesired population increases in local deer numbers.

MDC also strongly discourages the removal of deer carcasses from CWD-Management-Zone counties. Moving carcasses of potentially infected deer out of the immediate area where they were harvested and improperly disposing of them can also spread the disease. Certain carcass parts, such as boned out meat, are okay to move because the protein that causes CWD is not concentrated in these parts.

Learn more about CWD at mdc.mo.gov/CWD.

MDC reminds deer hunters to properly dispose of carcasses

Proper deer-carcass disposal helps prevent the spread of deer-borne diseases.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds deer hunters throughout the state to properly dispose of carcasses from harvested deer to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases in deer, such as the always-fatal chronic wasting disease (CWD).

“Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt deer, and deer hunters are key to keeping it that way,” says MDC Deer Biologist Jason Sumners. “Because many hunters process their own deer, they are key players in slowing the spread of diseases such as CWD. One way that disease can spread is by the transportation and improper disposal of carcass parts.”

Deer can become infected with chronic wasting disease if they come into contact with other infected deer or with surface soil containing carcass parts from diseased deer. Deer carcass parts known to concentrate CWD include brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, and lymph nodes.

Chronic wasting disease was first found in Missouri in Macon and Linn counties several years ago. In response, MDC established a CWD Containment Zone covering Adair, Chariton, Linn, Macon, Randolph, and Sullivan counties. The disease remains limited to the local area.

“Hunters who harvest deer in these counties should not take whole deer carcasses out of the containment zone, or carcass parts that contain brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, or lymph nodes,” Sumners adds, along with the following information.

Proper Carcass Disposal

• Avoid cutting through bones, spine, or brain when processing deer carcasses. 
• Remove meat in the field and leave the carcass behind. Bury it if possible.
• If processing harvested deer in camp or at home, place carcass parts in trash bags and properly dispose of them through a trash service or landfill.
• Take harvested deer to a licensed commercial processor to assure proper carcass disposal.
• For taxidermy work, use a licensed taxidermist to assure proper carcass disposal.

Safe Parts to Transport

• Meat that is cut and wrapped, or has been boned out,
• Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spine or head attached,
• Hides or capes from which all excess tissue has been removed,
• Antlers, including antlers attached to skull plates or skulls cleaned of all muscle and brain tissue, and
• Finished taxidermy products.

The Wildlife Code of Missouri requires hunters who harvest deer, elk, or moose out of state and bring the animal with the spinal column or head attached into Missouri to call toll free, 877-853-5665, and report the animal’s entry within 24 hours. They also must take the carcass to a licensed meat processor or taxidermist within 72 hours of entry. This is designed to prevent introducing CWD into new areas of Missouri from other states. Hunters transporting deer through Missouri en route to other states do not need to call the number.

Donate Tissue Samples

Sumners also encourages hunters who harvest deer within the CWD Containment Zone of Adair, Chariton, Linn, Macon, Randolph, and Sullivan counties to donate tissue samples from their deer to the Conservation Department for its CWD monitoring program. Numerous deer-processing facilities and taxidermists in the area are participating in the effort.

Details about these measures are listed in the 2014 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Informationbooklet, which is available at MDC offices and nature centers, where hunting permits are sold, and online atmdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/resources/2010/03/ftd2014.pdf.

North Dakota Hunters Report Few Sightings of Dead Deer

Even with thousands of hunters in the field during the opening week of the pheasant season, the State

Game and Fish Department received only a few reports from hunters who found dead deer in southwestern North Dakota.

Game and Fish personnel have been monitoring the deer population in the southwest since late August, when the first reports of dead deer, attributed to epizootic hemorrhagic disease, came in from Bowman, Grant and Burleigh counties.

Isolated deer deaths continued into mid-September, prompting the department to suspend the sale of slightly more than 1,000 antlerless deer licenses that were still available in units 3F1, 3F2 and 4F in the southwestern part of the state.

Dr. Dan Grove, Game and Fish wildlife veterinarian, said information received from pheasant hunters is helpful in evaluating the magnitude of an EHD situation.

“The area of the state where EHD traditionally occurs is covered with hunters,” Grove said. “With only a minimal number of dead deer sightings, combined with recent overnight low temperatures below freezing, it appears the worst of the EHD outbreak may be behind us.”

EHD is a naturally occurring virus that is spread by a biting midge. It is almost always fatal to infected white-tailed deer, and is most noticeable in western North Dakota when high whitetail populations combine with a hot and humid late summer and early fall. Most deer that die from this are infected before the first hard frost, which kills the biting midges that spread the disease. Mule deer do not usually die from the disease.

EHD causes dehydration and a high body temperature, causing deer to seek water prior to death. Other clinical and behavior symptoms may include respiratory distress; swelling of head, neck, and tongue; lesions on tongue and roof of mouth; indifference to humans; and in later stages, hemorrhaging from body orifices.

The transmission cycle of the viruses involved in EHD is complex and involves both domestic and wild animal reservoirs. Although it is rare for cattle to develop the clinical disease from the viruses that kill deer, during a wide scale outbreak such as in 2011, or a localized outbreak like this fall, it is not uncommon for cattle in affected areas to develop clinical disease. Grove said North Dakota is not alone this year, as EHD has been detected in wildlife in Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Michigan, and in both domestic and wild ruminants in Wisconsin and Iowa.

EHD is not a danger to humans. Hunters do not have to worry about handling or consuming meat from infected deer. However, hunters should not shoot or consume a deer if it appears sick.

More information on EHD is available by visiting the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov, and in the department’s North Dakota OUTDOORS October magazine.

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Second Deer Lottery Held in North Dakota, Remaining License Sales Suspended

North Dakota’s second deer lottery has been held and individual results are available on the

State Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

While slightly more than 1,000 antlerless deer licenses were still available after the second lottery, all of them are in units 3F1, 3F2 and 4F in the southwestern part of the state, where Game and Fish is receiving ongoing reports of white-tailed deer mortality caused by epizootic hemorrhagic disease.

As such, Game and Fish administration has decided to not issue those remaining licenses. “The decision is based on previous years’ experience where moderate to significant white-tailed deer losses were documented in situations similar to this year,” said wildlife chief Randy Kreil.

In addition, Kreil said the likelihood of an extended fall, and possible continuation of EHD losses was also a factor in the decision. “While we first received reports of isolated deer deaths in August, loss of deer to this disease appears to have extended into September, and depending on the weather, may continue into October,” Kreil added, noting that the area of reported white-tailed deer deaths to EHD covers Bowman to Bismarck.

In 2011, deer deaths from EHD occurred well into October, and prompted Game and Fish to offer refunds to license holders in several southwestern units. Kreil said it’s too early to tell whether this year’s EHD episode is significant enough to warrant a similar action, and the agency will wait until after opening weekend of pheasant season to determine whether refunds would be an option. “In the past,” Kreil added, “it has been helpful to gauge the scope and intensity of an EHD situation when there are thousands of hunters in the field in EHD areas, who might observe dead deer along waterways.”

EHD, a naturally occurring virus that is spread by a biting midge, is almost always fatal to infected white-tailed deer, while mule deer do not usually die from the disease. Hunters do not have to worry about handling or consuming meat from infected deer because the virus that causes EHD is not known to cause disease in humans. In addition, the first hard freeze typically kills the midge that carries and transfers the EHD virus which will slow or halt the spread of the disease.

South Dakota Landowners And Hunters Asked To Report Dead Deer

Arenavirus

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department is asking landowners and hunters to be on the lookout for dead deer.

This is the time of the year when deer tend to succumb to hemorrhagic disease, also known as epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), or blue tongue.

The disease is common in white-tailed deer and is typically detected in late summer or early fall.
The virus is spread by a biting midge and causes extensive internal hemorrhaging. Many deer exhibit no clinical signs and appear perfectly healthy; other deer may have symptoms such as respiratory distress, fever, and swelling of the tongue.

With highly virulent strains of the virus, deer can die in three days or less. Affected deer are often found in low-lying areas or near rivers or ponds, where they go to combat the high fever.

People who see sick deer or find several dead deer in one locale are asked to contact their local conservation officers or call the Pierre GFP office at 605-773-5913.

EHD outbreaks can be locally severe but rarely affect more than 25 percent of a local deer population. In rare cases, the disease will affect more than 50 percent.

Deer may continue dying from hemorrhagic disease until a hard freeze reduces the midge populations that carry the disease.

EHD is not infectious to humans. For more information on the EHD virus visit http://www.vet.uga.edu/scwds/pdfs/HD.pdf

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Insect-borne disease connected to deer deaths in northeast Oklahoma

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation say a viral disease has been confirmed in at least one deer and may be related to 10 others found dead near the Verdigris River in northeast Oklahoma.

            According to Erik Bartholomew, big game biologist for the Wildlife Department, the disease that killed the deer has been in Oklahoma for several decades. The Wildlife Department receives scattered reports every year in Oklahoma and there are occasional small outbreaks like this one. The Department is continuing to monitor the area for other sick or dead deer.

            "Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is a hemorrhagic disease caused by a virus and spread by the bite of a midge or small fly, usually during the late summer or early fall, when the midge becomes active," Bartholomew said. "This virus is not transmissible to humans."

            Bartholomew added that the virus is not known to be transmissible from an infected deer to other deer through individual contact.

            There are several forms of EHD. In a completely separate case this month, biologists with the Wildlife Department confirmed a sick deer in southern Delaware Co. tested positive for a similar hemorrhagic disease called bluetongue virus.

            According to Bartholomew, some forms of EHD kill deer quickly while others simply make the deer sick for a while before recovering. The virus can lead to high fever, causing infected deer to seek water to cool off. Dead deer usually are found in or near water. In most cases, infected deer are in good body condition because the disease usually runs its course and kills the animal quickly. EHD is not a threat to humans.

            At present, there are no wildlife management tools or strategies available to prevent or control EHD. Bartholomew said there is little concern about the outbreak having a significant impact on deer populations, and any outbreaks will be curtailed by the onset of colder weather.

            "It's not something that we are worried about on a wide scale, but we do want to hear from people who see deer that appear to be sick," Bartholomew said. "We urge everyone to help us be on the alert."

            The public should report any sick deer or deer that are acting abnormal to their county game warden. A listing of game warden phone numbers by county is available online at wildlifedepartment.com.

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EHD confirmed in eight Michigan counties: Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Ionia and Montcalm

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health recently confirmed and announced the death of deer in Ionia and Branch counties was due to epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). Today the two organizations have confirmed EHD in six additional counties: Barry, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton and Montcalm. There has been a nationwide increase of EHD outbreaks due to the extended hot and dry conditions.

The often-fatal viral disease, found in wild ruminants, causes extensive internal bleeding within deer and is transmitted by a midge, or type of biting fly. A constant characteristic of the disease is its sudden onset. Deer lose their appetite and fear of humans, grow progressively weaker, salivate excessively and finally become unconscious. Due to a high fever, infected deer often are found sick or dead along or in bodies of water. There is no evidence that humans can contract the EHD virus.

EHD outbreaks killing deer in Michigan have occurred in isolated areas almost every year since 2006. Prior to 2006, EHD outbreaks in Michigan occurred in 1955 and 1974. The estimated mortality has varied from 50 to 1,000 deer per year in the affected areas.

“We are seeing a large die-off of deer in local areas. To date we have over 900 reports of dead deer across all counties,” stated Tom Cooley, DNR wildlife biologist and pathologist. “Although it is difficult to see so many dead deer, this is still a localized issue and the regional deer population should not be impacted.”

The DNR would like to remind hunters that they may not see as many deer in the areas where EHD is occurring. Deer numbers in the affected areas should rebound within a few years.

There is no known effective treatment for, or control of, EHD. Where EHD is more common, deer have built up antibodies to the disease, and population recovery does not take long. Michigan deer do not have the benefit of these antibodies. Losses may be severe but are typically restricted to localized areas. Population recovery may take longer than has been experienced in other states.

Property owners who discover dead deer or would like to talk to their local wildlife biologist should contact their nearest DNR office. Office locations can be found at www.michigan.gov/wildlife by clicking on Wildlife Offices.

It is acceptable to allow natural deterioration processes to dispose of deer that die from EHD. Natural deterioration will not spread the disease or cause other disease outbreaks. Property owners are responsible for the proper disposal of carcasses that they wish to remove from the site. Carcasses should be buried at a sufficient depth so that no parts are showing above ground. Carcasses also can be disposed of at landfills that accept household solid waste.

For more information on EHD, visit www.michigan.gov/wildlifedisease.

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DNR, MDARD update Michigan’s plan for managing chronic wasting disease

CWD (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Natural Resources Commission adopted changes to chronic wasting disease baiting and feeding regulations, as outlined in the state’s newly revised CWD response plan, at its regular monthly meeting Thursday in Lansing.

Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Jamie Clover Adams recently signed the first revision to the CWD plan since it was adopted a decade ago.

The updated plan takes into account the large amount of research and case studies on CWD that have become available since Michigan’s original Surveillance and Response Plan for Chronic Wasting Disease of Free-ranging and Privately Owned Cervids was finalized in 2002.

“This plan is critical in guiding our state’s response to CWD, as it did when the disease was found here a few years ago,” said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. “Much of the 2002 plan is still valid and sound, but we now know a lot more about what causes CWD, how it is spread, what the public thinks about how the disease should be addressed, and the results of CWD management efforts in other states. In light of this, we decided that some modifications to the plan were in order.”

“CWD is a reportable disease, so if the disease is detected in free ranging cervids or a Michigan Privately Owned Cervid facility, we will define a surveillance zone around the positive case,” said State Veterinarian Steven Halstead. “This plan should protect Michigan’s cervid industry as well as Michigan’s free-ranging deer population while meeting our ultimate goal of safeguarding animal health.”

The principal changes to the plan are:

• The plan will be implemented if a CWD-positive animal is found within 10 miles of the Michigan border, rather than 50 miles as in the original plan.
• Baiting and feeding will be banned in any county within a 10-mile radius of where CWD is detected.
• All Privately Owned Cervid facilities within that zone will be required to complete increased disease testing of their herds to monitor for signs of CWD.
• If the disease is diagnosed in a Privately Owned Cervid facility, all facilities that have had contact (through purchases, sales or immediate contact) will undergo increased disease surveillance testing, and exposed animals will be removed from contact herds.

These changes eliminate the peninsula-wide management provisions for dealing with a CWD occurrence.

Actions that remain from the original response plan include: immediate baiting and feeding bans; a restriction on removing anything more than the boned meat, hide, and antlers of a deer or elk taken within the CWD management zone; and mandatory CWD testing of animals remain in effect.

Michigan’s Regional Deer Advisory Teams and a variety of hunting groups have reviewed the modified plan.

The updated plan, and more information about CWD, is available online at www.michigan.gov/cwd.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is committed to assuring the food safety, agricultural, environmental, and economic interests of the people of the State of Michigan are met through service, partnership and collaboration.

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South Dakota GFP Asks Hunters and Landowners to Report Any Deer Found Dead

Image via Wikipedia

PIERRE, S.D. – The state Game, Fish and Parks Department has documented a few white-tailed deer found dead across South Dakota, and early reports point to epizootic hemorrhagic disease or EHD, which commonly affects white-tailed deer in the fall.

“This is the time of year when we receive these reports, and it is  hard to tell the extent of the impact at this time,” said Steve Griffin, a GFP wildlife biologist.  “The virus is carried by a biting midge, which can remain prevalent until a hard freeze kills the midges.”  

Department staff are collecting samples from some of the dead deer, and the samples are being sent to the diagnostics lab at South Dakota State University, Griffin said.

GFP is currently assessing the status of EHD in the South Dakota deer herd, he said.

“We have confirmed the disease in central South Dakota, and the symptoms that our local conservation officers and field staff are describing sound much like EHD,” Griffin said. “Although the extent of the disease is unknown at this time, it appears that the primary counties affected are Sully, Hughes, Stanley, Jones, Lyman, and Tripp. With the hard freezes last week, the disease vector was likely eliminated.  However, we may still see deer dying that were infected prior to the frost.”

The virus that causes EHD gives deer a high fever, and they will appear to be in a daze.  If the disease hits them hard, they can die in 1-3 days.  The dead deer are often found near low-lying areas or in areas where they can cool off in a river or pond. They are usually too weak to leave those wet areas, and die there.

EHD outbreaks can be locally severe, but rarely affect more than 25 percent of a deer population.  In rare cases, up to 50 percent of deer may be stricken.

Those who see deer that appear dazed, or find a number of dead deer, are asked to contact local conservation officers or call the Pierre GFP office at 605-773-3718.

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