PA Game Commission Investigating Deer Deaths in Southwestern PA

[rev214]

i saw this release from the PA Game Commission...

Release #101-07

GAME COMMISSION LOOKING INTO DEER DEATHS IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers are investigating the cause of death of more than 50 white-tailed deer in Greene and Washington counties.

Game Commission biologists recently submitted samples for testing from four deer (three males and one female) to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia and Penn State University Animal Diagnostics Laboratory, and continue to gather information about other dead deer being found. Once the results are available, the Game Commission plans to release the findings to the public.

"While we must wait for test results to confirm just what caused these deer to die, at this time, we are suspecting that the deer died of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), based on fields signs that we are seeing," said Dr. Walter Cottrell, Game Commission wildlife veterinarian.

In 2002, EHD was confirmed in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania (see News Release #099-02 in the 2002 Archives of the Newsroom on the agency's website - www.pgc.state.pa.us). That same year, EHD was confirmed in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

EHD is one of the most common diseases among white-tailed deer in the United States, and is contracted by the bite of insects called "biting midges." EHD usually kills the animal within five to 10 days, and is not spread from deer to deer. While EHD is not infectious to humans, deer displaying severe symptoms of EHD may not be suitable for consumption.

Cottrell stressed that even though some EHD symptoms are similar to those of chronic wasting disease (CWD) - such as excessive drooling, unconsciousness and a loss of fear of humans - there is no relationship between EHD and CWD.

Cottrell also pointed out that EHD should be curtailed with the first hard frost, which will kill the insects that may be spreading the disease. He noted that EHD, unlike CWD, is a seasonal disease and the affected local deer herd can rebound quickly.

"The good news from this situation is that the public is reporting these sightings to the Game Commission," Cottrell said. "Should the state's deer herd be infected with more serious diseases, the Game Commission will need to rely on the continued vigilance of the public so that we can respond in a timely manner."

Game Commission Southwest Region Director Matt Hough urged residents to report unusual sightings by calling the Region Office at 724-238-9523. The Southwest Region serves Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Residents in other counties are encouraged to contact their respective regions.

In addition to the confirmation of EHD in southwestern Pennsylvania in 2002, EHD was suspected to be the cause of death in nearly 25 deer in Adams County in 1996. However, tests conducted at that time were inconclusive.

[andrewmyers]

good to see its not cwd...at least i hope, but i have usually trusted the opinions of experts in the medical field at least. i just didnt want to see that it was CWD and have a mass deer extermination like has been done in other states. such a waste if you ask me to just randomly start executing deer hoping to stop a spread of a disease. still im going to look into this EHD? as someone with a degree in wildlife and fisheries management topics like this definitely catch my attention.

[bluetick]

TEST RESULTS CONFIRM EHD IN GREENE/WASHINGTON COUNTIES

HARRISBURG - Dr. Walter Cottrell, Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife veterinarian, today announced that test results have confirmed that epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is causing mortality in deer in parts of southwestern Pennsylvania. So far, more than 100 deer have been found dead in Greene and Washington counties, and the deaths are consistent with EHD. This marks the second time the disease has been confirmed in Pennsylvania.

Cottrell noted that tests were conducted at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia and Penn State University Animal Diagnostics Laboratory, and that those results confirmed that the most commonly found variant (Type II) of EHD was identified. Mortalities have been reported in Richhill, Gray, Morris, Aleppo, Jackson and Center townships in Greene County; and in West Finley, East Finley, South Franklin and Morris townships in Washington County.

"While we want to continue to receive reports about dead deer in these townships, we also are very most interested in hearing from those who find dead deer in other townships," Cottrell said. "As tissue samples must be extracted within 24 hours of death to be suitable for conducting tests, it is important that we hear from residents as soon as possible.

"Hunters need to know that EHD cannot be contracted by humans, furthermore it is extremely rare - and highly unlikely - for this variant to cause clinical signs in traditional livestock, such as cattle, sheep or goats."

Cottrell also advised that there is no evidence that humans can acquire the disease by touching or field-dressing a deer. However, as a routine precaution, all hunters are encouraged to wear rubber or latex gloves when handling or field-dressing an animal, and wash hands and tools thoroughly after field dressing. As with any wild game, always cook meat thoroughly.

EHD is a common disease in white-tailed deer populations of the United States, and is contracted by the bite of insects called "biting midges." In northern states, EHD usually kills the animal within five to 10 days, and is not spread from deer to deer by contact. While EHD is not infectious to humans, deer displaying severe symptoms of EHD may not be suitable for consumption.

Dr. Cottrell stressed that even though some EHD symptoms are similar to those of chronic wasting disease (CWD) - such as excessive drooling, weakness and a loss of fear of humans - there is no relationship between EHD and CWD.

"Because these diseases can look alike in some ways, all of the deer that are submitted are being tested for CWD," Dr. Cottrell said. "It also is worth noting that EHD is one of those diseases that can be amplified by anything that serves to congregate deer, such as supplemental feeding. Therefore, such activities should be discontinued immediately."

Cottrell also pointed out that the EHD outbreak should end with the onset of colder weather, which will kill the insects that spread the disease. He noted that EHD, unlike CWD, is a seasonal disease and the affected local deer herd will rebound quickly.

"The good news from this situation is that the public is reporting these sightings to the Game Commission," Cottrell said. "Should the state's deer herd be infected with more serious diseases, the Game Commission will need to rely on the continued vigilance of the public so that we can respond in a timely manner."

Matt Hough, Game Commission Southwest Region director, urged residents to continue to report unusual sightings by calling the region (724-238-9523). The Southwest Region serves Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Residents in other counties are encouraged to call their respective regions.

In 2002, an EHD outbreak was confirmed in Greene and Washington counties. That same year, EHD was confirmed in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. In 1996, EHD was suspected to be the cause of death in nearly 25 deer in Adams County, but test results in that case were inconclusive.

Numerous other states also are finding EHD-related mortality this year. Reports have been confirmed in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia and West Virginia.

Created in 1895 as an independent state agency, the Game Commission is responsible for conserving and managing all wild birds and mammals in the Commonwealth, establishing hunting seasons and bag limits, enforcing hunting and trapping laws, and managing habitat on the 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands it has purchased over the years with hunting and furtaking license dollars to safeguard wildlife habitat. The agency also conducts numerous wildlife conservation programs for schools, civic organizations and sportsmen's clubs.

The Game Commission does not receive any general state taxpayer dollars for its annual operating budget. The agency is funded by license sales revenues; the state's share of the federal Pittman-Robertson program, which is an excise tax collected through the sale of sporting arms and ammunition; and monies from the sale of oil, gas, coal, timber and minerals derived from State Game Lands.

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/v...?Q=172301&A=11