MNR Commissioner Outlines CWD Response



[ad_1]

However, the recent discovery of chronic debilitating disease in a wild deer near Merrifield was also a key topic of discussion.

Sarah Strommen, a newly appointed member of the MNR Commission, presented the governor's plan to allocate $ 4.57 million in general funds to fight the MDC.

"There have been concerns about cases in southeastern Minnesota but now, having one in Crow Wing County, it's clearly a bigger problem," Strommen said. . "(The funds) allow us to have the necessary funds to act quickly and aggressively, which means in particular continuous monitoring and control in areas where we have detected infections, which also means working with landowners and hunters, the land is privately owned, so we need the help of those who own it to get us samples. "

The fact that the problem receives dollars from the general fund is noteworthy for Strommen because the governor acknowledged that the CWD was a state-wide problem.

"This is a funding we all contribute to … This is a critical issue for the entire state, given the importance of deer hunting in our state's economy," he said. Strommen. "This is not an issue that should only be supported by deer hunters."

Michelle Carstensen, DNR Wildlife Health Program Manager, said, "This detection is very recent, but we have been collecting deer samples with MDC-compatible clinical signs throughout the state since 2002. In this case, one of them was returned, we found dead, she was very skinny and had been screened, which is very common, unfortunately she came back We have all the carcass, which was transported to the MNR diagnostic laboratory, and it was concluded that he died of the disease, so CWD kills. "

Mr. Carstensen stated that the DNR would likely sample the deer caught in the next hunting season, as they did last fall, but wish to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible.

"We went beyond the normal time to do anything with the hunters, but we wanted to be responsive now, we still have good winter conditions and there are still deer available," she said. "We think the highest risk is with the currently infected farm, just four tenths of a mile from where we found this infected deer – it's the most important point source for exposure." likely.

"Either it's a novel or it's the tip of a very old iceberg." We do not know, but we do not want to wait and see what we find in the fall when we could do simpler things now. "

MDC attacks the brain and nervous system of infected deer. Other features include rapid weight loss and excessive salivation.

"When you are at the beginning of the disease outbreak or early in the MDC, it's really your only chance to be really effective, not to install it at the same time." 39, wild state, "said Carstensen. "Wisconsin has counties in the south where there is 40% of MDC, the horse left the barn a long time ago, there is no return for the moment. that in Crow Wing County We have had an isolated case with association with other known infections.If we want to succeed in preventing its establishment, it is by acting now.

The Lake District has been banned from the deer since 2017. This ban was to end soon, but with this new discovery, landowners and hunters can look forward to that it be extended.

"What we would like to remind owners and hunters is that it takes a partnership to meet them," Strommen said. "We do surveillance, checks and tests, but we are asking hunters and owners to help us pick deer, submit samples and access goods, and we will have more discussions about this."

— — — — —

Public meeting scheduled for March 4

After the discovery of the chronic debilitating disease in a wild deer in Crow Wing County, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is offering firing permits to landowners and will work with homeowners wanting to authorize the Ministry of Transportation. United States agriculture to remove other deer on their properties.

The DNR targets a localized area to kill infected deer. Landowner's licenses have been mailed to landowners with 10 or more acres located within 3 km of the discovery site of the deer-positive deer. These licenses will come into effect on Saturday, March 2nd.

MNR will also hold a public meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Monday, March 4th at the Woods Restaurant on County Road 3, near Merrifield, to provide additional details on its response efforts and answer questions.

MNR staff will review the results of the monitoring and explain the immediate planned CWD response efforts until early spring.

Representatives of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, which regulates deer and elk farming, will also present information at the meeting. The venue accommodates a maximum of 300 people. MNR will make the presentations available online for those who can not attend.

— — — — —

Discovery of the MDC in Crow Wing County

On January 23, a positive deer for the Crow Wing County MDC, an adult female, was found in Merrifield, north of Brainerd. A conservation officer responded to information that a dead deer was within one kilometer of a captive captivity facility in captivity. . The DNR tests suspect deer where possible, especially in high risk areas. On February 14, test results confirmed that wild deer was positive for CWD.

MNR began monitoring the cervid captivity facility from the 2017 hunting season. Over the past two years, the MNR has sampled over 8,600 deer in this central monitoring area. north, without prior detection of deer positive for CWD.

"Thanks to the support of the hunters, we have tested a lot of deer in this area over the past two years, and no positive results have been identified," said Lou Cornicelli, DNR Wildlife Research Manager. . "We hope that the disease will be isolated in this immediate area and we react quickly to try to limit the spread and preserve the health of our wild deer population."

CWD affects the deer family, which includes deer, elk and moose. It is spread through direct contact with saliva, urine, blood, stool, wood velvet or the carcass of an infected deer. There is no vaccine or treatment for this disease. For more information on CWD, visit mndnr.gov/cwd.

[ad_2]

Source link