Threat of Chronic Wasting Disease Spurs Action
written by Kate Pipkin

Proposed rules to prohibit the transportation of captive deer and elk are the surest means to stop the arrival of Chronic Wasting Disease.

Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, has been covered in the national press and in virtually every outdoor magazine in the last few months. But there are still many questions about what this disease means to North Carolina hunters, hunting traditions, the state’s $600 million hunting economy, human health and the future of our deer herd.

CWD—Snapshot
CWD is a neurological disease of deer, elk and related animals (collectively called cervids) characterized by microscopic empty spaces in the brain matter. It was first recognized as a clinical “wasting” syndrome in 1967 in mule deer at a wildlife research facility in northern Colorado. Afflicted animals exhibit unusual behavior and eventually die. The source of the disease appears to be an abnormal protein, called a prion, in the nervous system. Although the exact method of infection is unknown, biologists know that direct animal-to-animal contact is a means of transmission. However, evidence also suggests that direct animal-to-animal contact is not always necessary, and that contaminated environments present a risk. Animals may not show symptoms for five years, but once they do, death is certain. There is no treatment or cure. No live-animal test for CWD exists.

As of this publication date, there are no known cases of CWD in North Carolina or in adjoining states. There has been no documented case of a human contracting a CWD-like disease from deer. For optimal safety, however, the Commission recommends people do not consume any of the following organs: brain, eyeballs, spinal cord, spleen and lymph nodes, or eat meat from a deer that looks sick.

Since the ultimate effects of this disease may be locally devastating for a deer herd, the Commission is determined to keep the disease out of our borders, or, if it has been imported via a captive cervid (see below), completely contained. Therefore, the Commission has temporarily amended rules to protect the wild deer herd. If not overruled by the legislature, these rules will become permanent.

The most likely route of introduction—were CWD to come to our state—would be by importation of a captive cervid. Indeed, other states and provinces in Canada seem to have contracted CWD from the movement of infected captive cervids.

Why do North Carolinians hold cervids in captivity? A few are farmers, raising fallow deer and elk for their meat or parts under a North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) program. Others run petting zoos, breed cervids for sale, or have an interest in wildlife. North Carolina does not allow the hunting of captive cervids. We have relatively few licensed captive facilities (82) compared to states that do allow this type of hunting (950 captive facilities in Wisconsin, for example). For more than two decades, the commission has required any citizen wishing to hold cervids in captivity to obtain a license and follow rules. These include maintaining a properly sized facility; isolating captive cervids from other captive animals; providing a water source and shelter area and reporting all deaths to the state Department of Agriculture.

In order to prevent an infected animal from coming into North Carolina and to isolate captive cervids that are potential carriers of CWD, the Commission’s new rules focus on the holding, identification and movement of captive cervids.

Wild White-tailed Deer and Elk
Under the new rules, private individuals are no longer allowed to hold injured or orphaned wild deer for rehabilitation. Such animals must be reported to a Commission representative immediately.

Cases of truly orphaned or abandoned fawns are extremely rare. Usually a doe is nearby watching her fawn. As always, the Commission urges the public to leave fawns alone. Picking up a fawn or repeatedly visiting it will make the doe nervous and may prevent her from caring for her fawn. Respect nature and do not treat a fawn like a domestic animal in need of human care.

None of the rules and procedures to protect North Carolina’s wild deer herd from CWD will interfere with normal hunting activities. Nor are there new rules for hunting in North Carolina that pertain to CWD. If you decide to hunt deer, elk or related wildlife outside of North Carolina, the Commission recommends that you bring back only:

• meat that is cut and wrapped (either commercially or privately)
• quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached
• meat that has been boned out
• hides with no heads attached
• clean hides (no meat or tissue attached)
• skull plates with antlers attached
• antlers with no meat or tissue attached
• upper canine teeth (i.e., “buglers,” “ whistlers” or “ivories”)
• finished taxidermy heads

If you hunt in a state with an active CWD outbreak, please consult that state’s wildlife agency for special restrictions or recommendations.

The Future of North Carolina’s Wild Deer Herd
Wildlife biologists are currently taking samples from wild deer to test for CWD. Currently, target animals must be euthanized in order to collect tissue for analysis. Commission staff will continue
to monitor deer and enforce the new captive cervids rules as long as CWD remains a threat to the wild deer herd. Some may think the new rules are too strict, but the Commission takes seriously
its responsibility to protect the state’s wildlife resources. The Commission believes these rules
will ensure the safety of our wild deer for the enjoyment of current and future generations of North Carolinians.

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