Wildlife Disease News Digest

Sask. Takes Aim at Rise in Chronic Wasting Disease
CBC News - www.cbc.ca
13 Nov 2007
Area: Saskatchewan, Canada
Photo Courtesy of CBC/J Huckabay

Chronic wasting disease in Saskatchewan wild deer is on the increase, prompting the government to step up efforts to curb its spread. Saskatchewan Environment is encouraging hunters to kill more deer this year and to turn in the animal heads for testing, said Marv Hlady, a wildlife specialist with the department.The fatal "brain wasting" disease affects deer, elk and moose. Since testing began in the province in 1997, 150 deer have tested positive, with 2006 posting the highest number at 47.

This year the province has broadened areas open to hunters and is allowing them to take more deer. In addition, Hlady said the government will test more heads. "We want to be able to make a good scientific analysis of where the disease is and where it is not," he said. But wildlife expert Val Geist, professor emeritus at the University of Calgary, dismissed the province's approach as a "desperation" strategy.

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DEC Confirms Additional Cases of Deer Disease in New York [Press Release]
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (posted by ReadMedia Newswire - readme.readmedia.com)
13 Nov 2007
Area: New York, USA

Recent tests for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in several additional Albany, Rensselaer and Niagara County deer have come back positive, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. The disease was first detected in New York State in October 2007. EHD does not present a threat to human health. Following the first New York detection in Voorheesville, Albany County, DEC solicited the assistance of those who may be outdoors in helping to report any deer that are found sick, dying or dead.

This resulted in additional deer mortality reports from Selkirk in Albany County, Castleton in Rensselaer County, and Youngstown in Niagara County, and DEC has recently confirmed EHD as the cause of death. EHD is predominantly a disease affecting deer and is transmitted by certain types of biting flies called midges. It mainly affects deer in late summer and fall, but the flies die and the disease subsides when frosts and colder temperatures occur.

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Disease Shuts Hatchery; 60,000 Trout Destroyed
Salt Lake Tribune - www.sltrib.com
14 Nov 2007
B Prettyman
Area: Utah, USA

State wildlife officials have shut down the Springville Fish Hatchery and destroyed 60,000 trout after detecting whirling disease in one of two buildings at the facility. It is the second time since 2005 that the trout malady that produces deformations, neurological damage and, eventually, death to trout and salmon has been found at the Springville Hatchery. After the outbreak in 2005, the state handed out 90,000 pounds of infected trout to the public.

Whirling disease is of no harm to humans who eat the infected fish. There will be no giveaway with the most recent outbreak because the fish are only 4 inches to 5 inches in length. In 2005, the fish were about 10 inches long. Tim Miles, fish culture supervisor for the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), said one fish of 120 recently sampled tested positive for DNA evidence of whirling. "We will take Springville out of production until we can get a new water supply," Miles said.

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Wild Animals Euthanized After Recovery Operation
The Decatur Daily News - www.decaturdaily.com
14 Nov 2007
H Hollman
Area: Georgia, USA

The foxes, coyotes and bobcats recovered as part of Operation Foxote have been euthanized. On Saturday, state wildlife officials arrested 18 people in 14 counties, including a Wisconsin man arrested in Limestone County, for the illegal trade, importation and possession of wildlife. The operation began in Alabama and spread throughout the Southeast. In Alabama, agents seized 25 coyotes, 55 foxes and two bobcats. In addition, they seized one moonshine still and 33 cardinals.

The animals involved were destined for fenced-fox-running enclosures where they would have been running stock for hounds, officials said. Patrons pay a fee, usually about $25, for the privilege of running dogs inside these fenced areas. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Enforcement Chief Allan Andress said there were two reasons for euthanizing the animals. First, they would have been a health risk for native species, and second, their chances of survival would have been slim because they were removed from their native habitats.

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