Pennsylvania Federation Of Sportsmens Clubs

Chronic Wasting Disease

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer and elk. It causes a characteristic spongy degeneration of the brains of infected animals resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death. To date there is no known cure for this disease. Below are some useful articles relating to the disease, and more importantly, how it is affecting Pennsylvania.

Recent News

Game Commission Institutes Carcass Parts Ban (Just Added)

Using newly-granted emergency powers, the Pennsylvania Game Commission issued an order banning the importation of specific carcass parts from states and Canadian provinces where CWD had been identified in free-ranging cervid populations.

CWD Update (Just Added)

An update on the disease from around the United States as of January 13, 2006.

December Update

A year end update on the advance of the disease over the 2005. The report profiles cases from around the U.S. and Canada.

5^th CWD Positive Deer in WV / PA Game Commission Prepares to Sample

A new CWD positive female deer has been found about 1 mile outside the 5-mile surveillance circle. Meanwhile in PA, the Game Commission has begun to prepare for sampling of 4,000 hunter-killed deer in PA for cases of CWD.

New Publication Titled Controlling Chronic Wasting Disease in Wisconsin Now Available

A new publication titled Controlling Chronic Wasting Disease in Wisconsin is now available. The publication is a progress report on the first three years of Wisconsin’s CWD control efforts and progress to date in the areas of CWD research, disease surveillance, human health protection, communication and outreach, and disease prevention and control.

PFSC and Others Provide Testimony About CWD

On October 24, 2005 PFSC and a host of other stakeholders testified before a Joint Committee involving the Senate Game & Fisheries Committee and the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committees to voice their concerns regarding Chronic Wasting Disease. PFSC’s comments, as well as, the testimony of other organizations can be viewed here.

• View Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs Testimony

• View PA Department of Agriculture Testimony

Order of Quarantine

Official CWD Response Plan

• View PA Game Commission Testimony

• View PA Taxidermist Association Testimony

• View PA Deer Farmers Association Testimony

3 More Deer Test Positive for CWD in West Virginia

Late last week, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that three free-ranging white-tailed deer collected from Hampshire County had tested “suspect positive” for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). These samples were submitted for further testing at the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and, as expected, they were confirmed to be CWD positive.

Governor Rendell Approves State CWD Response Plan

Mandatory CWD Surveillance Begins Oct. 1; restriction on Hunter-killed Carcass Parts Goes into Effect in response to CWD cases in neighboring states.

CWD Found in West Virginia

Pennsylvania Game Commission officials late today were informed that West Virginia Division of Natural Resources received confirmation that a road-killed white-tailed deer from Hampshire County, West Virginia, tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The 2.5-year-old buck was discovered about 25 miles south of the Pennsylvania/Maryland line, due south of Bedford County, Pennsylvania.

Deer Disease Could Cost New York Millions

If chronic wasting disease impacts New York deer hunting like it did in Wisconsin, the state economy could lose up to $107 million, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said Wednesday.

Hunters Encouraged to Learn More About CWD, Enjoy Time A-field

The CWD Alliance is distributing a new video showing field dressing and meat processing techniques. Produced by American Outdoor Productions, the DVD-format video explores the realities of the disease and how hunters can continue to enjoy their time a-field. “Shedding Light on Chronic Wasting Disease” may be ordered through the CWD Alliance website.

Archived News

Click here to find past updates and releases documenting the recent evolution of this disease.

Other Helpful Resources

CWD Alliance Web Site

The mission of the CWD Alliance is to promote responsible and accurate communications regarding CWD, and to support strategies that effectively control CWD to minimize its impact on wild, free-ranging deer and elk populations

CWD Message Board

This is a forum to discuss and post issues and comments regarding Chronic Wasting Disease as found in cervids. Also posted are some of the many articles appearing daily on CWD. Please check this site regularly for the most updated info and articles on CWD.

Meat Handling Guidelines

A published chart showing what to avoid when processing deer.

CWD Articles, etc.

A collection of articles and selected reading all relating to CWD.

CWD Management Plan

Plan for Assisting States, Federal Agencies, and Tribes in Managing Chronic Wasting Disease in Wild and Captive Cervids.

CWD Regulations

A spread sheet on a Pennsylvania summary of CWD and cervidae regulations, thanks to the research of the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and an article of a Wisconsin wildlife biologist who relocated to Montana.