Deer Disease in West Virginia Cause for Alarm
The Capital
25 June 2006
Bill Burton
It's said that every cloud, black as it might be, has a silver lining. Hopefully, this applies to something as ominous as the report of four new cases of fatal chronic wasting disease (CWD) among whitetail deer in Hampshire County, W.Va., just across the Potomac from Maryland's popular Green Ridge State Forest. This brings the total to nine in that county.
That state's Division of Natural Resources, which acknowledges preliminary testing on the latest four deer indicated CWD was to blame, said the testing was done as part of an "ongoing intensive surveillance effort." CWD testing was conducted by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study located at the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine.
How can there be a silver lining to such news? All nine afflicted deer were from the same small area near the small town of Slanesville, a popular hunting grounds for both residents and non-residents. This could well mean the outbreak remains contained in the area.
Billings Gazette
25 June 2006
Bill Donald
Photo courtsey of Billings Gazette
The idea of eliminating cattle from the lands adjacent to Yellowstone National Park has been a topic of debate as of late. It is not a new concept. It was discussed during the formulation of the Interagency Bison Management Plan.It would require landowners in the area to sell easements that would prohibit the grazing of cattle on their private land and the elimination of forest grazing permits. It was an idea that was rejected then and is being viewed with skepticism now.
Landowners from the area met recently to discuss the concept. Those in attendance were unanimous in their opposition to the idea.
Some have shown a strong commitment to the health of their grazing land by making improvements such as building water systems, corrals and fences, which benefit their land to the maximum and enhance their ability to manage the grazing patterns of cattle.
Supplemental Feedings can Hurt or Kill Wildlife if Aflatoxin not Avoided
commercialappeal.com
25 June 2006
Bryan Brasher
For as long as the term "deer management" has existed, landowners and hunting club leaseholders have been practicing supplemental feeding during the offseason. Most feel like a $5 bag of whole kernel corn three or four times a month is a small price to pay for growing bigger, healthier deer.
But new information from wildlife biologists across the country suggests those conscientious land managers could actually be doing more harm than good. The food they're dumping into those offseason feeders could be poisoning the very animals they're trying to fatten up.
"There is certainly some information out there that suggests people could be hurting the wildlife on their property by feeding with grains like whole corn," said Bill Cox, a Collierville resident and member of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission. "If those grains develop aflatoxin, they can kill a number of animals, including turkey and deer."
Tests Rule Out Bird Flu in Livingstone of Zambia
Xinhua (Posted by People's Daily Online)
23 June 2006
The Zambian government has said test results from samples of some dead wild birds in Livingstone, capital of Southern province, are avian influenza negative, The Post newspaper reported Friday.
Christina Chisembele, epidemiologist with the Ministry of Agriculture, was quoted as saying here Thursday that the test results indicate that the birds do not die of bird flu. However, Chisembele could not give more details and said the permanent secretary of the ministry will issue a statement on the issue.
Chisembele reiterated the government appeal to people to remain calm. More than 40 wild birds were found dead early this week in Livingstone near the famous Victoria Falls shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Four birds were found dead in Lusaka Thursday triggering off new fear of possible bird flu outbreak in the southern African country.
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