PA Game Commission: CWD Not Found in Pennsylvania Hunter-Killed Deer Samples
Pennsylvania Gaming Commission (Posted by prnewswire.com)
30 May 2007
Area: Pennsylvania USA
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was not detected in samples taken from hunter-killed deer during the state's 2006 hunting season, according to Dr. Walt Cottrell, Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife veterinarian. Because CWD was identified in New York and West Virginia in 2005, Cottrell noted that the agency continues to increase the number of deer samples it collects for testing. In 2006, 4,260 samples were tested from hunter-killed deer, and CWD was not detected. In 2005, 3,834 samples were tested from hunter-killed deer, and CWD was not detected.
In 2004, 3,613 hunter-killed deer samples were tested, compared to the 2,004 deer sampled in 2003, and 558 in 2002. CWD was not detected in previous year's samples. Results showing that the CWD tests of hunter-killed elk from 2006 were all negative and were announced on March 2. "We are pleased to report that Pennsylvania continues to have no confirmed or suspected cases of wild deer or elk with CWD," Cottrell said.
Environmental Protection Agency Sued Over Pesticide Use Harmful to 11 Bay Area Endangered Species [Press Release]
Center for Biological Diversity - biologicaldiversity.org
30 May 2007
Area: San Francisco, California USA
The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for violating the Endangered Species Act by registering and allowing the use of 46 toxic pesticides in habitats for nearly a dozen San Francisco Bay Area endangered species without determining whether the chemicals jeopardize their existence. May 27th would have been the centennial birthday of Rachel Carson, whose pioneering 1962 book Silent Spring raised awareness about the deadly impacts of pesticides on the environment and human health, and led to a federal review of pesticide policy and an eventual ban on DDT in the United States. “Ending the use of known poisons in habitat for our most endangered wildlife is an appropriate 100th birthday tribute to Rachel Carson, who alerted us to the hazards of exposure to toxic chemicals almost half a century ago,” said Jeff Miller, conservation advocate with the Center.
“Unfortunately the EPA has not learned from her legacy and still has no plan to adequately assess impacts while registering and approving pesticide uses that pose a clear and present danger both to imperiled species and human health.” At least 61 million pounds of pesticide active ingredients were applied in Bay Area counties from 1999 through 2005 — over 8.5 million pounds annually. Actual pesticide use may have been several times this amount since most home and commercial pesticide use is not reported to the state. Under the Bush administration, the EPA has consistently failed to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on endangered species impacts when registering and authorizing use of toxic pesticides.
Fatal Fish Virus Leads DNR to Issue Emergency Rules for Anglers
Vernon County Broadcaster - vernoncountybroadcaster.com
30 May 2007
M Johnson
Area: Wisconsin USA
A fatal fish virus has put Department of Natural Resources officials sending out an alarm and establishing emergency rules. The virus, viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), is a new fish disease that killed hundreds of sheepshead in Lake Winnebago and Little Lake Butte des Mortes this month, according to the DNR. “This is a serious fish disease and we have developed a plan to deal with VHS…,” Mike Staggs, Wisconsin’s DNR fisheries director, said. “We had already taken steps in our hatchery and field operations to avoid spreading the disease.”
The disease does not pose a threat for humans, but has the possibility of “killing large numbers of sports fish.” Nearly 50 species of fish are known to be susceptible to VHS, according to the DNR. The virus causes fish to hemorrhage both on their skin and in their internal organs, causing death. Seeing a fish with the virus is, “not very attractive,” Doug Aloisi, manager of the National Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hatchery in Genoa, said. The plan to stop VHS includes a set of emergency rules instituted by the DNR.
Bacteria Show Promise in Fending Off Global Amphibian Killer
American Society for Microbiology (Posted by sciencedaily.com)
25 May 2007
First in a petri dish and now on live salamanders, probiotic bacteria seem to repel a deadly fungus being blamed for worldwide amphibian deaths and even extinctions. Though the research is in its early stages, scientists are encouraged by results that could lead the way to helping threatened species like mountain yellow-legged frogs of the Sierra Nevada mountains of southern California. The research, conducted by biology Professor Reid N. Harris at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va., and funded by the National Science Foundation, was presented May 23, 2007 at the 107th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in Toronto. Experiments have shown that Pedobacter cryoconitis, bacteria found naturally on the skin of red-backed salamanders, wards off the deadly chytridiomycosis fungus.
In late 2004, Australian researchers cited chytridiomycosis as one of the main factors imperiling up to one third of the world's amphibian populations. "The exciting aspect is that we identified at least one bacterium from the skin that in both the dish and on the salamander aids the healing process ... one species of bacteria which you could tentatively view as a probiotic," says Harris. Harris hatched the idea of using the bacteria to fight the skin fungus while researching another amphibian killer, a fungus that attacks their eggs and embryos. Research by other scientists indicated bacteria on some amphibians produced compounds that were active against the egg fungus.
Officials Warn Against Eating Paddlefish from Ohio River
The Associated Press (Posted by coshoctontribune.com)
31 May 2007
R Alford
Area: Kentucky USA
Kentucky officials issued an advisory Wednesday urging only limited consumption of paddlefish caviar from the Ohio River because it may be contaminated with chemicals. The news could be bad for fishermen benefiting from the booming market for paddlefish caviar, which has come into demand because of its similarities in taste, look and consistency to sturgeon eggs. Three Kentucky agencies joined together to issue the fish consumption advisory, saying pregnant women, women of childbearing age and children should eat no paddlefish flesh or eggs from the river because they contain elevated levels of mercury, chlordane and the cancer-causing chemical polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. "Most people who consume caviar eat only a small amount, but, still, our recommendation for this special population is for no consumption," said Guy F. Delius, assistant director of the Kentucky Division of Public Health Protection and Safety.
Others should eat no more than six meals per year. Paddlefish and their eggs have made Kentucky's list of contaminated fish every year since at least 1999. The latest advisory listed a number of Ohio River fish species that should be eaten only on a limited basis because of contaminants, but paddlefish and their eggs were of special concern, Delius said. The advisory involves only the stretch of Ohio River along Kentucky's northern border.
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