"You Can’t Fool [with] Mother Nature"

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) (ref. my previous column of 5/22/02) continues to be a major concern to authorities in many states especially Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Iowa, Saskatchewan in Canada and many other states and especially now in our own New York State. And I’m sure that NYS’s neighbors are all testing and taking necessary steps to prevent the spread of CWD.

The current outbreak of CWD, also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, is currently infecting pen raised and wild deer and elk in several mid-western states. Its close relative Mad Cow Disease had been discovered previously in domestic cattle herds in Europe and last year steps were taken to stop the export of cattle to the U.S.A. At that time it was discovered that cattle and other domestic livestock was being fed the ground parts of slaughtered cattle that previously had no known use other than bone meal for farming. How long this has been a practice could be anyone’s guess. And if the cattle feed has been fed to wild deer and elk then this could explain why CWD has spread into wild populations.

My good friend Dr. Ward Stone, Head Pathologist of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Pathology Lab in Delmar recently collected 50 road-killed deer carcasses from Albany, Schenectady and Greene Counties. The heads were removed and the brains were removed and sent to a Pathology Lab for testing. There are currently only 3 or 4 labs in the country that are certified to do the specific testing of brain tissue to determine if the animal had CWD. Test results from seven of the fifty deer have come back with negatives results for CWD and DR. Stone is hoping that all test results will be negative.

Dr. Stone plans to be collecting and testing approximately 500 more deer carcasses between now and the start of deer season. Dr. Stone also hopes to also enlist the help of hunters after the season starts. Some states are now planning to expand the hunting season times and bag limits on deer in the areas that are showing signs that the disease has found its way into the wild populations of deer and elk.. No word yet if NYS is planning to do the same.

I know that many hunters are very concerned about contracting Lyme Disease from the Deer Tick and that many are reluctant to stay in the woods if they pick-up a single tick. CWD is just another disease for the hunting community to worry about. I read about one case in one western state where two young hunters developed a disease with symptoms similar to CWD but it wasn’t proven to be CWD.

It is not known at this time just how the disease is spread between animals. In my opinion if the experts don’t know how it is spread between animals then they don’t know if can be spread to humans. The disease is caused by a an unusual protein, called a “prion,” that cannot be destroyed by conventional sterilization methods. According to Dr. Stone, incineration with temperatures of at least 1650 degrees C. is required to destroy the prion.

According to some biologists, it is possible that CWD may be spread through the feeding of man made feeds/pellets to wildlife. This practice is against the law in some states.

I'll be reporting more on CWD in future columns.

Dr. Stone is still also working on the West Nile Virus outbreak and last year tested more than 10,000 birds.

* * *
Bass Season opened on Saturday June 15th. be sure to check your Fishing Regulations Guide for specific rules for the region and body of water that you plan to fish. Also be aware of the NYSDEC health advisory for specific waters, if you plan to eat your catch. If you plan to catch and release please treat the fish carefully and gently with wet hands. If the fish is hooked deep just snip the line as close as possible and release as quickly as possible.