Pennsylvania Game Commission Working To Understand Chronic Wasting Disease

By Tom Knighton

Chronic wasting disease is a condition that affects deer populations throughout the country. It’s defined as “a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. It causes a characteristic spongy degeneration of the brains of infected animals resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death.”

While it doesn’t appear to have any impact on humans, it’s still not something hunters want to see.

In Pennsylvania, the game commission is stepping up its efforts to understand and eventually combat the disease.

With increased cases of chronic wasting disease in the wild deer population, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is increasing efforts to contain the disease.

ABC27 News joined Wayne LaRoche, the commission’s special assistant for CWD, for recent field work being performed on State Game Lands #87 in Clearfield County. The area is part of Disease Management Area #3 established by the agency earlier this year. LaRoche says a member of the public discovered a sick-looking free-ranging buck and alerted game officers who euthanized the deer. It later tested positive for CWD.

“Generally, our thinking is when we find one positive deer — because deer are social animals, there’s very likely going to be other positive deer,” LaRoche …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms