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Hunters Urged to Protect California Deer from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
10/2/08
This fall, Department of Fish and Game (DFG) wardens will check hunters at various entry points into California to prevent the introduction of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Hunters returning from other states or Canadian provinces with deer or elk must obey all DFG regulations designed to stop CWD from entering California. The deadly disease has been found in 15 states and two Canadian provinces. It is a fatal neurological disease of deer and elk. It has not been found in humans.
"Hunters play a key role in keeping CWD out of California and need to be aware of the deer and elk carcass importation law," said Assistant Chief Mike McBride. "Wardens are actively enforcing the law. DFG has been providing hunters with information and education on CWD for several years."
Hunters are prohibited from bringing any portion of elk or deer into California that could contain CWD. The law requires they return the "Declaration for Entry into California of Game, Fish, Birds or Animals" form, which is available at DFG regional offices and online at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/enforcement/docs/declaration_form.pdf.
Wardens have authority to inspect harvested game and can conduct vehicle stops once successful hunters return to California.
California has strict laws on the importation of live animals. DFG Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Pam Swift noted that hunters bringing in infected carcasses would be the most likely method for CWD to enter in California.
"Infected animals carry the disease in their nervous tissue. California regulation bans the importing of brain or spinal cord tissue from deer and elk harvested out of state," Swift said.
CWD regulations passed in 2002 were updated in 2008 to help protect the state's deer and elk herds. Summaries of the regulations are printed in the 2008-2009 Mammal Hunting Regulation Pamphlet, The California Hunting Digest Big Game issue and are codified in Section 712, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
Only the following hunter-harvested deer and elk parts are allowed into California from out of state:
* portions of meat with no part of the spinal column, brain or head attached (other bones, such as legs and shoulders, may be attached);
* hides and capes (no spinal column, brain tissue or head may be attached);
* clean skull plates (no brain tissue may be present) with antlers attached;
* antlers with no meat or tissue attached, except legally harvested and possessed antlers in the velvet stage are allowed, if no meat, brain or other tissue is attached;
* finished taxidermy mounts with no meat or tissue attached (antlers in the velvet stage are allowed if no meat, brain or other tissue is attached); and
* upper canine teeth (buglers, whistlers and ivories).
CWD has been detected in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. It has also been detected in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. To date, there is no cure for the disease, which remains resilient and has a long incubation period.
Media Contact:
Mike McBride, DFG Enforcement Division, (909) 484-0167
Dr. Pam Swift, DFG Wildlife Veterinarian, (916) 358-1462
Harry Morse, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8911
10/2/08
This fall, Department of Fish and Game (DFG) wardens will check hunters at various entry points into California to prevent the introduction of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Hunters returning from other states or Canadian provinces with deer or elk must obey all DFG regulations designed to stop CWD from entering California. The deadly disease has been found in 15 states and two Canadian provinces. It is a fatal neurological disease of deer and elk. It has not been found in humans.
"Hunters play a key role in keeping CWD out of California and need to be aware of the deer and elk carcass importation law," said Assistant Chief Mike McBride. "Wardens are actively enforcing the law. DFG has been providing hunters with information and education on CWD for several years."
Hunters are prohibited from bringing any portion of elk or deer into California that could contain CWD. The law requires they return the "Declaration for Entry into California of Game, Fish, Birds or Animals" form, which is available at DFG regional offices and online at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/enforcement/docs/declaration_form.pdf.
Wardens have authority to inspect harvested game and can conduct vehicle stops once successful hunters return to California.
California has strict laws on the importation of live animals. DFG Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Pam Swift noted that hunters bringing in infected carcasses would be the most likely method for CWD to enter in California.
"Infected animals carry the disease in their nervous tissue. California regulation bans the importing of brain or spinal cord tissue from deer and elk harvested out of state," Swift said.
CWD regulations passed in 2002 were updated in 2008 to help protect the state's deer and elk herds. Summaries of the regulations are printed in the 2008-2009 Mammal Hunting Regulation Pamphlet, The California Hunting Digest Big Game issue and are codified in Section 712, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
Only the following hunter-harvested deer and elk parts are allowed into California from out of state:
* portions of meat with no part of the spinal column, brain or head attached (other bones, such as legs and shoulders, may be attached);
* hides and capes (no spinal column, brain tissue or head may be attached);
* clean skull plates (no brain tissue may be present) with antlers attached;
* antlers with no meat or tissue attached, except legally harvested and possessed antlers in the velvet stage are allowed, if no meat, brain or other tissue is attached;
* finished taxidermy mounts with no meat or tissue attached (antlers in the velvet stage are allowed if no meat, brain or other tissue is attached); and
* upper canine teeth (buglers, whistlers and ivories).
CWD has been detected in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. It has also been detected in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. To date, there is no cure for the disease, which remains resilient and has a long incubation period.
Media Contact:
Mike McBride, DFG Enforcement Division, (909) 484-0167
Dr. Pam Swift, DFG Wildlife Veterinarian, (916) 358-1462
Harry Morse, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8911
