For Release: Friday, October 12, 2007

DEC Seeks Hunter Cooperation in Assessing Deer Health as Archery Season Opens in the Southern Zone

Two deer were delivered to DEC's Wildlife Pathology Laboratory in Delmar, Albany County, after the remains of about twenty deer were found within proximity to one another over the course of this past week. Initial examinations indicate that the cause of death could be attributed to Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). Samples on the deer are pending at two national laboratories. If confirmed, this would be the first confirmed detection of EHD in New York State, though EHD is common in many southeastern states and has been reported throughout the mid-Atlantic states this summer. The New York deer are also being tested for Chronic Wasting Disease, rabies, or possible poisoning.

EHD does not present a known threat to human health, livestock, pets, or most other wildlife. It is predominantly a disease of white-tailed deer and other deer and is transmitted by biting flies. It mainly affects deer in late summer and fall, but when frosts and colder temperatures occur, the flies die and the disease subsides. If the disease is confirmed in New York State, DEC will inform the public promptly. For more information about EHD, go to www.uga.edu/scwds/index.htm .

Sick or dead deer should be promptly reported to DEC at 1-800-TIPP-DEC. Hunters are reminded that they should always take simple precautions to protect themselves from exposure to disease. To minimize the risk of transmission of any infectious diseases when handling or processing deer, the following precautions are recommended:

Do not handle or eat any deer that appear sick, act strangely, or are found dead;
Wear rubber gloves when field dressing game;
Wash instruments and any parts of the body exposed to animal tissues, blood, urine, etc. thoroughly with soap and water;
Request that animals are processed individually, without mixing or coming into contact with meat from other animals;
Have your game processed promptly;
Consumption of organ meat (including brain, spinal cord, and other nervous tissue, spleen, pancreas, eyes, tonsils and lymph nodes) may pose a greater risk of infection with a number of diseases, such as rabies. Hunters should have deer boned out and have as much fat, connective tissue and lymph nodes removed as possible; and
Out of an abundance of caution, people should not consume an animal known or suspected to have Chronic Wasting Disease, rabies, or other illness.

For more information about the current and upcoming 2007-08 big game seasons in New York State, go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/37136.html and view the DEC Hunting and Trapping Guide. For more information about animal diseases or the Wildlife Pathology Unit, go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/261.html on the DEC website