Suppression of Deer in Clearfield and Jefferson Counties for Disease Control

HARRISBURG, PA. (WJAC) –

Officials from the Pennsylvania Game Commission have announced plans to make targeted deer withdrawals following the discovery of several isolated cases of chronic wasting syndrome in areas of Clearfield, Jefferson and Franklin counties.

Gaming Commission officials said the purpose of the deer removal was to test the deer population sufficiently in a given area to see if the CWD had been established.

The number of deer to be eliminated in each area depends on the local deer population. Officials say that on average 100 to 200 deer must be removed to reach their goal.

The Gaming Commission, as well as the US Department of Agriculture and Wildlife Services, will contact the owners for permission to sample within 1 to 2 miles of isolated cases.

"In the new areas where the CWD is being detected for the first time, the Game Commission is committed to preventing its establishment," said Matthew Schnupp, director of the Bureau of Wildlife Management's Bureau of the Game Commission. "Landowner cooperation is essential in these efforts, aggressive management strategies aimed at reducing the number of deer in other states have demonstrated their ability to eliminate these sparks from new infection."

Officials from the Gaming Commission stated that venison venison that did not have a positive cervid test would be given to participating landowners and cooperating food banks.

Last week, officials announced that a doe on a breeding farm in Bethel County, Fulton County, and a kid in a Bloom County Game Reserve, County of Clearfield, had been tested positive for the currently incurable disease.

Up to now, CWD has been detected in the wild deer population in nine of the 67 Commonwealth counties.

Seventy-nine cases were found in Bedford County, 43 in Fulton County, 36 in Blair County, three in Cambria County, two in Clearfield and Franklin Counties, and one in County Counties. Huntingdon, Jefferson and Somerset.

Earlier this month, the Game Commission suspended deer removal plans in Bedford and Blair counties after reporting that they did not receive enough support from landowners for removal.