In order to maintain hunting activity in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott McCallum and the Department of Natural Resources are taking aggressive measures to try to eliminate chronic wasting disease from Wisconsin’s deer herd. The disease is not only a threat to Wisconsin’s deer population, but to its hunting and environmental heritage as well.
After the fatal brain disease was detected in late February, the McCallum administration actively fought to eradicate the disease found in the Wisconsin white-tailed deer.
Recently, Gov. McCallum has accelerated the state’s battle against CDW by increasing testing capacity for this fall’s hunting season.
McCallum’s persistent efforts have enabled him to acquire comprehensive federal assistance. Moreover, by requesting grants from the federal government and the U.S Department of Agriculture, he has secured ample disease-fighting resources.
In addition to the increase in funding, he has recently unveiled a short-term CWD action plan based on the best available science.
Tim Roby, spokesman for Gov. McCallum, said, “The governor has taken an aggressive approach for the last six months, working with the federal government and agencies within the state on a state-wide plan. He is working on this complex issue and is continuing to direct efforts from the scientific side as well as federal funding.”
The McCallum administration is collaborating with Wisconsin wildlife and health professionals who also feel it is imperative to prevent the spread of the disease.
“With the eradication strategy in place, the governor is deeply involved with the state agencies and attends weekly meetings to work against this matter,” Roby said.
The DNR is among the most supportive agencies dealing with the outbreak of the disease in Wisconsin. It proposes that the most viable solution is to significantly reduce the herd in southwestern Wisconsin where the infected deer are most prevalent. By eradicating the disease from the deer in this outbreak area or “eradication zone,” CWD will be most effectively eliminated.
Furthermore, the DNR adamantly supports the CWD eradication activities and believes the next crucial steps are to systematically collect samples and report the results.
Bob Manwell, lands public affairs manager of the Department of Natural Resources, said, “in addition to the plan to eradicate [the disease in] western [Wisconsin], we are now undertaking a disease surveillance effort that is unprecedented in the history of wildlife management. An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 animals will be tested from every county in the state, which averages out to be about 500 deer per county.”
Despite any link between the human consumption of venison and the neuron-degenerative disease, Manwell still insists that CWD impacts the state on numerous levels. “McCallum is primarily concerned with the economic impact to the state, tourism ties and finally, the enjoyment of hunters.”
Although CWD is invariably fatal to deer, Wisconsin is aggressively dealing with the disease with improved laboratory facilities and funding. As a result of McCallum’s commitments, hunters can go back into the woods with the confidence that eradication efforts are in effect.
