NYSDEC holds regional CWD meetings
Written by Frank Carbone Jr.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is in the process holding public informational meetings on Chronic Wasting Disease in the different regions of the state. NYS is broken down into 9 different regions with an office in each region. The meeting for Region #3 -- which consists of 7 counties, Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, Dutchess, Rockland, Westchester and Putnam -- was held in Ferndale, Western Sullivan County.

CWD affects wild deer and elk as well as pen raised deer and elk. CWD is caused by a wild “protein” that causes holes to form in the brain of the host and is similar to the another form of the disease -- Mad Cow Disease. Little is known about how CWD is transferred, acquired or how to control it. And since last year it has been illegal to import live deer and elk into NYS.

Successful NYS deer hunters who hunt out of state should know by now that it is illegal to bring the whole carcass back across state lines. The deer must be completely processed and packaged. Most internal organs should be avoided as well as bone marrow. If the hunter wants to bring the antlers back into NYS it is recommended that they soak the base in bleach. For a complete chronology on CWD please visit the outdoorpressroom.com or the NYSDEC website or visit the DEC’s regional office in New Paltz for more detailed information. I’ve also written about CWD here in my column several times since last year.

Since last year the DEC tested 937 NYS Whitetail Deer. CWD wasn’t found in any of the deer tested. The deer were obtained from road kills, nuisance permits and other sources. But this doesn’t mean that the disease isn’t in here in NYS. According to Ward Stone, NYSDEC Pathologist from Delmar, the best way to destroy the prion is to incinerate it to 1600 degrees. But I discovered at the recent DEC meeting in Sullivan County that those out of state hunters who bring antlers back to NYS should soak the base in household bleach.

The DEC has also made it illegal for folks to artificially feed deer. The pelleted food that is sometimes made from “mammalian proteins” is suspect. The other concern is that deer that are fed artificially will congregate in larger than normal groups and this may enable the disease to easily transfer from animal to animal through feces, urine and saliva.

DEC representatives however say it is OK to feed browse to deer. Browse can be made available to deer by the cutting part of the way through small trees and saplings and then pushing it over parallel to the ground so that deer can reach it. I must warn that this practice shouldn’t be attempted on state or private lands unless you have permission.

I attended the DEC's CWD meeting held last week in Western Sullivan County. There were many hunters from Sullivan County clubs represented. One club rep said that they wouldn’t have any deer if it wasn’t for the artificial feeding program that has been supported in the past by the DEC. They expressed a concern that since it is now illegal to feed the deer that they wanted to see a solution worked out between hunting clubs and the DEC. I didn't realize that the feeding program was that important to Sullivan County Clubs. It sounds like they may have to go back to the drawing board regarding improvement of their club's property and deer habitat. Some areas just won't naturally support high concentrations of deer or other wildlife without seeing severe impacts to plants and other wildlife.  

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A recent History Channel survey had some surprising results for some folks. As of February 16 25,502 people voted. The question asked was “which right or freedom is most crucial to America’s democratic way of life?” The choices and breakdown of responses are as follows: Freedom of religion -- 8%, 2000. Freedom of speech -- 22%, 5,644. Right to bear arms -- 63%, 16,156. Right to due process -- 4%, 1,048. Right to trial by jury -- 2%, 604. Perhaps the regular viewers of the History Channel realize the important part that firearms have played in the creation of our nation and the freedoms that we all enjoy to this day. The History Channel website address is http://www.historychannel.com/

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The Orange County Land Trust is co-sponsoring a lecture by eminent scientist Dr. William Schuster, Executive Director of Black Rock Forest Consortium, on Thursday, February 27, 2003 at 7 p.m. The lecture, “What is Happening to our Forests? Are they healthy and sustainable for the future?” was originally presented as part of the New York Natural History Museum’s lecture series. Dr. Schuster’s lecture will be held in the Grand Hall and Music Room of the Morrison Hall Mansion at Orange County Community College, South St. Middletown, NY. Admission is free. The Land Trust is co-sponsoring this event with OCCC’s Cultural Affairs’ Office and Orange County Citizens' Foundation. For additional info contact the Land Trust at 845-343-0840.

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Very Special Happy Birthday! wishes to Flora Dawes of the Town of Plattekill who will be 97 years young on March 1st. Flora is a faithful reader of the Mid Hudson Times and I’m pleased to report that she also reads my column. Flora loves to read and is a student of American History and politics. Thank You Flora! and all of the best to you. I’m sure that you and your family will be celebrating on your very special day! Enjoy!

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“Pray for Peace -- Dress for war.” -- Robee VanNorman, Ulster County SCOPE Chair.

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