More deer test positive for CWDBy John McCoy, West Virginia Gazette
January 23, 2010West Virginia wildlife officials say they're "not pleased, but not surprised" to learn that 16 additional Hampshire County deer have tested positive for chronic wasting disease.The infected whitetails were among 1,091 killed during the Hampshire County's 2009 buck-hunting season. Division of Natural Resources officials set up special game-checking stations to take tissue samples from hunter-killed deer and have them tested.
The 16 CWD-positive results were the most discovered in a single batch since sampling began in 2005. Overall, 2 1/2 times as many infected deer turned up in 2009 than were discovered in 2008. Paul Johansen, the DNR's assistant wildlife chief, called the findings "unwelcome."
"It's definitely something we didn't want to see," he said.
Eight previous sampling efforts averaged fewer than six infected animals. The highest previous total was 11 CWD-positive whitetails, collected by teams of DNR sharpshooters in 2008.
Johansen said the most troubling information that came from last fall's sampling effort was that three of the deer were killed outside the DNR's "CWD Containment Zone," the area of Hampshire County north of U.S. 50 where hunters may not feed or bait deer and must specially prepare whitetail carcasses before transporting them outside the county.
"This wasn't the first time we've had deer test positive outside the containment zone," Johansen said. "But this past season we had three. That does give us pause; we're certainly considering the option of expanding the containment zone."
He added that "the issue will certainly be discussed" when DNR biologists meet later this month to fine-tune the agency's game-management plans for 2010. "We'll consider the data, and from those data we'll make our recommendations. Nothing is decided yet."
Johansen said the DNR has "thrown everything but the kitchen sink" at the Hampshire County CWD outbreak, but the disease has continued its slow spread despite the effort.
"I'm confident, based on the current level of knowledge [about the disease], that we're taking the proper courses of action," he said. "As more knowledge comes in, we'll fine-tune our strategies."
If biologists recommend to expand the containment zone or to impose further restrictions on carcass handling or transport, DNR Director Frank Jezioro will decide whether to implement those changes.
"The decision lies with the director," Johansen said. "He has the legal authority. All we [biologists] can do is to make recommendations."
Reach John McCoy at johnmc...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1231.
http://wvgazette.com/Outdoors/201001230525
