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teamasc
Forum Admin
1348 Posts |
 Posted - 02/11/2009 : 07:45:02
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 9, 2009
Contact: Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014
DNR and MDA Report on 2008 Chronic Wasting Disease Efforts
A comprehensive report outlining efforts to monitor and prevent the
spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Michigan was delivered to the
Natural Resources Commission at a recent meeting in Lansing. A team of
Department of Natural Resources and Michigan Department of Agriculture
staff presented the report.
In 2008, the DNR tested 9,151 free-ranging white-tailed deer for CWD,
and all tested negative. The only deer that has tested positive for the
disease so far was a privately-owned three-year old doe at a deer
breeding facility in Kent County. The DNR and MDA announced detection of
the disease at the Kent County facility in August 2008.
gWhile it is good news we have not detected the disease yet in the
free-ranging deer herd, it does not by any means indicate we are out of
the woods,h said DNR Wildlife Veterinarian Steve Schmitt. gWe will
continue testing at increased levels for the next several years, and we
will continue to urge strong prevention measures with hunters to help us
keep the disease from spreading.h
The prevention measures include:
Maintain the permanent ban on baiting and feeding deer in the Lower
Peninsula;
Continue the captive cervid importation ban, which prohibits the
importation of captive cervids from other states into Michigan;
Continue the restrictions on importation and possession of
hunter-harvested free-ranging deer and elk from states or provinces
where CWD has been found;
Continue adequate testing of captive and free-ranging deer and
elk.
gWe must continue to be diligent in preventing the establishment of
CWD in free-ranging deer in Michigan,h said DNR Wildlife Chief Russ
Mason. gIf we fail and the disease becomes established, we will be
living with CWD forever, and over time we will witness the decimation of
the free-ranging white-tailed deer herd in this state.h
The report also revealed that there are 492 registered captive cervid
facilities currently operating in the state. Since 2006, 79 facilities
have started the decommissioning process, with 65 facilities requesting
to be decommissioned since Aug. 25, 2008, when all facilities were
placed under a statewide quarantine to prevent the movement of captive
cervids in the state. A total of 224 privately-owned cervid facilities
have been released from the quarantine following inspections by the
state, while the rest remain under the quarantine.
For more information about CWD in Michigan, please visit the Emerging
Diseases Web site at www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases, the DNR Web site
at www.michigan.gov/dnr or the MDA Web site at www.michigan.gov/mda.
The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use
and enjoyment of the state's natural resources for current and future
generations.
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Todd Alexander
ASC Membership Services Manager
talexander@team-asc.com
www.team-asc.com
734-552-4839
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DNR and MDA Report on 2008 Chronic Wasting Disease
