Suspicious deer raise worries about possible CWD spread

Posted on: July 28, 2017 | Bob Frye | Comments

Two once-captive deer were recently discovered wandering in Elk County, raising suspicions about where they came from.
Photo from Pixabay

This isn’t good, that’s for sure.

But how bad it is?

We’ll know soon.

Last month, a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer shot a buck with chronic wasting on a game land in Clearfield County. Ever since there have been rumors it was turned loose from a game farm in that area.

Commission spokesman Travis Lau said last week the commission had no reason to suspect that was the case.

But now there’s this.

Thursday the commission said it euthanized two “free-ranging” deer on July 26 in Ridgway Township, Elk County.

Free-ranging means they were walking freely around on the landscape, rather than being contained inside a fence.

They were discovered about 20 miles north of disease management area 3. That put them within the state’s elk management area.

The problem?

“Both deer had identification tags in their ears, indicating they were at one time part of a captive-deer herd,” the commission said.

It’s since launched an investigation together with the state department of agriculture. It’s trying to determine who owned the deer and whether they escaped or were intentionally set free.

“The deer are currently being examined by the commission’s wildlife veterinarian, who will conduct an initial test to determine whether either deer was infected with chronic wasting disease,” said Wayne Laroche, the agency’s special assistant for CWD response.

Boy, would that be bad.

“This is disturbing news following the discovery a CWD-positive wild deer earlier this month in disease management area 3,” Laroche said. “With the department of agriculture’s assistance, we will do all in our power to sort out what happened quickly and take appropriate action.”

Disturbing indeed.

If the deer had CWD and were turned loose intentionally, the state’s deer and elk herds could both be at risk.

The commission is asking anyone who saw the deer or might know where they came from to call 570-398-4744, or 570-398-4745.

Bob Frye is the everybodyadventures.com editor. Reach him at 412-838-5148 or bfrye@535mediallc.com. See other stories, blogs, videos and more at everybodyadventures.com.

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