Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a rare, fatal, neurological disease found in cervids, members of the deer family. It is a transmissible disease that slowly attacks the brain of infected deer and elk, causing the animals to progressively become emaciated, display abnormal behavior and invariably results in the death of the infected animal. It has been known to occur in wild elk and deer populations in parts of some western states for decades. The disease has also been confirmed in captive deer and elk herds in several western states and Canadian Provinces. Its discovery in wild deer in south-central Wisconsin in 2002 has generated unprecedented attention from wildlife managers, hunters, and others interested in deer. CWD poses a significant threat to the deer and elk of North America and, if unchecked, could dramatically alter the future management of wild deer and elk.
CWD is one of a group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) that include scrapie in sheep and goats, transmissible mink encephalopathy of ranched mink, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), known as "mad cow disease", in cattle. TSE's are thought to be caused by abnormal, proteinaceous, infectious particles called prions (pree-ons). CWD occurs naturally only in mule deer, white-tailed deer and Rocky Mountain Elk and very likely other subspecies of elk. The mode of transmission of CWD has not yet been fully identified and research is ongoing to explore possibilities of transmission of CWD to other species. However, evidence has shown that the disease can pass from cervid to cervid by direct contact through saliva, urine, and feces, and by indirect contact through environmental contamination with infective substances. There is no known treatment for CWD and it is always fatal. Currently there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk for humans or domestic animals.
The state Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Agriculture and Markets (DAM), and Health (DOH), together with the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) are cooperating to develop a comprehensive statewide response to the threat of CWD. Together we are actively participating with other agencies and organizations in nationwide efforts to learn more about this disease and to prevent its spread. New York has a vigilant wildlife disease monitoring program in place, comprised of three main components. The first is a regulatory component designed to reduce the risk of bringing the disease into NY from other parts of the country and minimizing its spread if it is brought here. The second part is an ongoing field surveillance program to ensure the early detection of CWD and the third part is an agency response plan in the event that CWD is found. Through these active surveillance programs the cooperating state agencies first detected and verified positive cases of CWD in two captive deer herds in March 2005. A response plan was then initiated to remove future threats for these captive herds and implement a sampling strategy to determine if CWD had spread into wild New York deer herds.
Regulatory Action - When the potential CWD threat was identified in 2002, New York responded quickly with regulations restricting various activities that could introduce or spread CWD within the state. These regulations allowed DEC time to gather information about CWD, the impacts that various restrictions would have on constituents, and the level of protection they provided. The CWD regulation, which is part of DEC's comprehensive disease management effort, went into effect July 30, 2003. This regulation was later amended on July 14, 2004 to be consistent with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets regulations establishing a herd health certification program that covered all captive cervid herds in New York. The DEC CWD regulation includes:
- A Restriction on Importation of live Deer and Elk
The regulation prohibits the importation into New York State any wild or captive deer or elk except under permit issued by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. - A Restriction on Importation and Possession of Certain Animal Parts and Carcasses
New York is also restricting the importation of deer and elk carcasses and parts from western states and provinces, and from any captive herds, as a further preventative measure to ensure that infectious prions are not brought into the state. The regulation imposes a restriction on the importation and possession of high risks tissues where CWD has been shown to be concentrated including the brain, eyes, spinal cord, lymph nodes, tonsils or spleen. For an explanation of what is allowed see Procedures for bringing hunter killed big game into New York State. - A Restriction on the Liberation of Wild or Captive Deer and Elk
The regulation imposes a restriction on the liberation of the specified species of deer and elk. An exception is made for wild white-tailed deer temporarily held under department license such as those under the care of a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator. - Transportation of Deer and Elk Carcasses and Parts through New York
An exemption allows travelers passing through New York to transport carcasses, provided no parts are disposed of or remain in New York State. - Reporting Requirements for Taxidermists that handle Deer, Elk or Moose
The regulation requires taxidermists to maintain a log of all deer, elk, and moose specimens and to submit a copy of their taxidermy log to the Department by January 30 of each year. Taxidermy log forms (PDF 16kb) are available for download or may be obtained by contacting the nearest Department Regional Wildlife Office. - A Restriction on Deer Feeding
The regulation also prohibits feeding of wild deer under most circumstances as a further protective measure. This prohibition includes the use of substances that serve as an edible attractant for deer, such as powdered or crystallized minerals. This regulation does not restrict the planting of food plots for wildlife or cutting browse for deer in the winter. - A Restriction on the Sale of Feed for Wild White-tailed Deer
The regulation prohibits the retail sale of feed or feed equipment which is specifically labled or packaged as a product to be used for feeding or attracting wild white-tailed deer. In addition, the regulation prohibits the retail sale of feed for domestic livestock or wildlife unless a sign provided by the Department (PDF, 60KB) regarding the feeding restrictions is prominently displayed and visible to the public where the feed is being offered for sale.
Field Surveillance - Annually, thousands of wildlife specimens are examined to monitor the presence and distribution of various wildlife diseases. Following the discovery of CWD in Wisconsin, the Department implemented a statewide surveillance program in April 2002 to test wild white-tailed deer for the presence of CWD. This ongoing program uses a statistically valid sampling scheme based on New York's wild white-tailed deer population density to determine the appropriate number of samples needed throughout the State. Samples are collected and sent to an approved USDA laboratory for analysis. When CWD was discovered in two captive herds DEC immediately implemented a program of intensive sampling in the area surrounding those facilities and increased surveillance sampling across the State. The Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Map shows the location from which samples of the wild deer population have been collected.
Please check back on this page for updates and additional information as it becomes available.
More about Chronic Wasting Disease:
- Status of Chronic Wasting Disease in NY - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has received confirmation of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) from two wild white-tailed deer sampled in central New York.
- Chronic Wasting Disease Q&A - Responses to frequently asked questions about CWD.
