Bad news 50 dead........
08-21-2007, 05:07 AM
#2
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Oct 1998
Location: Hughesville, PA USA
Posts: 18,322
RE: Bad news 50 dead........
Not a word heard here.
Found this: http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/rss/s_491653.html
Found this: http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/rss/s_491653.html
08-21-2007, 05:12 AM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 4,679
RE: Bad news 50 dead........
PA Game comission sent something out about it yesterday on their email list. You PA guys should get on this email list, there is a sign up link on their site somewhere.
Release #101-07
Aug. 20, 2007
For Information Contact:
Jerry Feaser
717-705-6541
[email protected]
GAME COMMISSION LOOKING INTO DEER DEATHS IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers are investigating the cause of death of more than 50 white-tailed deer in Greene and Washington counties.
Game Commission biologists recently submitted samples for testing from four deer (three males and one female) to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia and Penn State University Animal Diagnostics Laboratory, and continue to gather information about other dead deer being found. Once the results are available, the Game Commission plans to release the findings to the public.
"While we must wait for test results to confirm just what caused these deer to die, at this time, we are suspecting that the deer died of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), based on fields signs that we are seeing," said Dr. Walter Cottrell, Game Commission wildlife veterinarian.
In 2002, EHD was confirmed in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania (see News Release #099-02 in the 2002 Archives of the Newsroom on the agency's website - www.pgc.state.pa.us). That same year, EHD was confirmed in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.
EHD is one of the most common diseases among white-tailed deer in the United States, and is contracted by the bite of insects called "biting midges." EHD usually kills the animal within five to 10 days, and is not spread from deer to deer. While EHD is not infectious to humans, deer displaying severe symptoms of EHD may not be suitable for consumption.
Cottrell stressed that even though some EHD symptoms are similar to those of chronic wasting disease (CWD) - such as excessive drooling, unconsciousness and a loss of fear of humans - there is no relationship between EHD and CWD.
Cottrell also pointed out that EHD should be curtailed with the first hard frost, which will kill the insects that may be spreading the disease. He noted that EHD, unlike CWD, is a seasonal disease and the affected local deer herd can rebound quickly.
"The good news from this situation is that the public is reporting these sightings to the Game Commission," Cottrell said. "Should the state's deer herd be infected with more serious diseases, the Game Commission will need to rely on the continued vigilance of the public so that we can respond in a timely manner."
Game Commission Southwest Region Director Matt Hough urged residents to report unusual sightings by calling the Region Office at 724-238-9523. The Southwest Region serves Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Residents in other counties are encouraged to contact their respective regions.
In addition to the confirmation of EHD in southwestern Pennsylvania in 2002, EHD was suspected to be the cause of death in nearly 25 deer in Adams County in 1996. However, tests conducted at that time were inconclusive.
Aug. 20, 2007
For Information Contact:
Jerry Feaser
717-705-6541
[email protected]
GAME COMMISSION LOOKING INTO DEER DEATHS IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers are investigating the cause of death of more than 50 white-tailed deer in Greene and Washington counties.
Game Commission biologists recently submitted samples for testing from four deer (three males and one female) to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia and Penn State University Animal Diagnostics Laboratory, and continue to gather information about other dead deer being found. Once the results are available, the Game Commission plans to release the findings to the public.
"While we must wait for test results to confirm just what caused these deer to die, at this time, we are suspecting that the deer died of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), based on fields signs that we are seeing," said Dr. Walter Cottrell, Game Commission wildlife veterinarian.
In 2002, EHD was confirmed in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania (see News Release #099-02 in the 2002 Archives of the Newsroom on the agency's website - www.pgc.state.pa.us). That same year, EHD was confirmed in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.
EHD is one of the most common diseases among white-tailed deer in the United States, and is contracted by the bite of insects called "biting midges." EHD usually kills the animal within five to 10 days, and is not spread from deer to deer. While EHD is not infectious to humans, deer displaying severe symptoms of EHD may not be suitable for consumption.
Cottrell stressed that even though some EHD symptoms are similar to those of chronic wasting disease (CWD) - such as excessive drooling, unconsciousness and a loss of fear of humans - there is no relationship between EHD and CWD.
Cottrell also pointed out that EHD should be curtailed with the first hard frost, which will kill the insects that may be spreading the disease. He noted that EHD, unlike CWD, is a seasonal disease and the affected local deer herd can rebound quickly.
"The good news from this situation is that the public is reporting these sightings to the Game Commission," Cottrell said. "Should the state's deer herd be infected with more serious diseases, the Game Commission will need to rely on the continued vigilance of the public so that we can respond in a timely manner."
Game Commission Southwest Region Director Matt Hough urged residents to report unusual sightings by calling the Region Office at 724-238-9523. The Southwest Region serves Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Residents in other counties are encouraged to contact their respective regions.
In addition to the confirmation of EHD in southwestern Pennsylvania in 2002, EHD was suspected to be the cause of death in nearly 25 deer in Adams County in 1996. However, tests conducted at that time were inconclusive.
08-21-2007, 05:39 AM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Fairbanks, AK
Posts: 3,132
RE: Bad news 50 dead........
Its kind of scary to think about how real this situation is and how fast it happened. CWD could be the same way, nothing one minute, then everywhere. Glad to hear that people are reporting stuff though. Hopefully that will help to contain any future diseases.
That article said it will stop once the first hard frost kills the biting midges. The first hard frost of this year is still a few months away and that could mean quite afew more dead deer. At least it isn't spread by deer to deer contact. Anyone know how it is spread?
Does anyone know if EHD is the same as blue tongue disease?
That article said it will stop once the first hard frost kills the biting midges. The first hard frost of this year is still a few months away and that could mean quite afew more dead deer. At least it isn't spread by deer to deer contact. Anyone know how it is spread?
Does anyone know if EHD is the same as blue tongue disease?
08-21-2007, 07:16 AM
#10
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Southwest PA
Posts: 816
RE: Bad news 50 dead........
Keep in mind, they only suspect that its EHD. They also said that the symptoms of EHD are similar to CWD.
I hope they're right. Id rather see a few deer die from EHD that a couple hundred deer shot because of CWD.[
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I hope they're right. Id rather see a few deer die from EHD that a couple hundred deer shot because of CWD.[
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