Aug 4, 2002 4 min read

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Vern Ross announced he has issued a temporary ban on the importation of all live cervids, such as deer and elk, into Pennsylvania to protect the state’s wild and captive herds from becoming infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD). The ban will take effect Aug. 1, and will remain in effect until rescinded. “We are fortunate to be able to assure the public that we currently have no confirmed or suspected cases of CWD in Pennsylvania’s wild or captive cervid herds, and we want to see it stay that way,” Ross said. “As the agency responsible to protect, manage and conserve the wildlife resources of this state, the Game Commission is committed to take all steps necessary to prevent the spread of CWD into Pennsylvania.

“However, the threat of CWD is growing, and there currently are more questions than answers about this disease. With that in mind, we don’t believe there is any reason to postpone this commonsense and responsible action.”

CWD has been detected in wild and captive herds of deer, elk and mule deer in several western states, Wisconsin and Canada. First identified in 1967, CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that affects cervids, including all species of deer, elk and moose. It is a progressive and always fatal disease of the nervous system afflicting wild and captive cervids. Scientists theorize CWD is caused by an unknown agent capable of transforming normal brain proteins into an abnormal form.

There currently is no reliable way to test live animals for CWD, nor is there a vaccine. Clinical signs include poor posture, lowered head and ears, uncoordinated movement, rough-hair coat, weight loss, increased thirst, excessive drooling, and, ultimately, death. There is no evidence so far of CWD having any affect on humans or other non-cervid livestock under normal conditions.

In Wisconsin, the first state east of the Mississippi River to have detected CWD in wild deer, hunters and wildlife managers are taking steps to kill thousands of deer in an attempt to head off the spread of CWD.

Under state law, the Game Commission has the authority to issue permits and set regulations for Pennsylvania’s nearly 700 deer propagators and 90 elk propagators. The agency estimates the state’s wild deer herd population is more than one million, and the wild elk herd is nearly 800.

“CWD is a prime concern for all interested in wildlife management,” said state Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Edward W. Helfrick. “I commend the Game Commission for taking prudent steps to ensure the health of our deer and elk herds.”

“This is a drastic measure, but a necessary one, to protect our deer and elk, as well as our hunters,” added state House Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Bruce Smith.

“The Game Commission worked with Penn State University veterinary officials to test for CWD and other diseases in the elk taken during the 2001 elk hunt,” Ross said. “All test results were negative.

“For the coming elk hunting season, we will continue to test all elk taken by hunters, and we will train our deer aging teams who visit meat processors to collect a significant random sample from hunter-killed deer during the 2002 rifle deer season for CWD testing.”

These precautions aside, the Game Commission was made aware last fall that Pennsylvania had received two shipments of farmed elk from infected ranches in Colorado. High-risk animals were located and tested for CWD by the U.S. and Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture.

“Fortunately, all of these high-risk animals tested negative for CWD,” Ross said. “However, this wake-up call demonstrated that Pennsylvania’s borders were wide open for the introduction of this disease, and the state’s farmed deer and elk industries, and wild deer and elk populations could be placed at risk.”