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| 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.
