RICHMOND, VA — Three new cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) were detected in the northwestern corner of Virginia during the 2014 hunting season. For the first time, CWD was detected in Shenandoah County; a 2.5 year-old buck that was killed by a vehicle was sampled very close to the Frederick County line. Two additional CWD-positive adult bucks were hunter-harvested near the previously established cluster in eastern Frederick County, very close to the West Virginia line.

Due to the fact that multiple CWD-positive deer have been diagnosed at the extreme eastern border of the current Containment Area (CA), the boundaries of the CA will be changing for the 2015 hunting season. The new CA will be comprised of Shenandoah, Frederick, Warren, and Clarke counties, in their entirety. Some CWD management actions that applied to all four counties were initiated in 2010, but others will be newly enacted in 2015. Management actions already enacted throughout the new CA include the prohibition of the feeding of deer year-round and the maintenance of liberal seasons and bag limits on private lands. Actions that will be initiated in 2015 include the prohibition of transport of whole deer carcasses and certain parts out of the new CA (with exceptions) and the prohibition of the rehabilitation of deer in the new CA.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) would like to thank all of the hunters in Frederick and Shenandoah counties for their excellent cooperation during CWD sample collection this past fall and look forward to working together again next season. VDGIF plans to collects CWD samples from the new CA on the first two Saturdays of the regular firearms season. This is also a change from previous years, when samples were taken on the first three Saturdays. VDGIF will also continue to work with the Virginia Department of Transportation and contractors to sample road-killed deer.

As of February 2015, CWD has been detected in 23 states and two Canadian provinces. The disease is a slow, progressive neurological (brain and nervous system) disease found in deer, elk, and moose in North America. The disease ultimately results in death of the animal. Symptoms exhibited by CWD-infected deer include staggering, abnormal posture, lowered head, drooling, confusion, and marked weight loss. There is no evidence that CWD can be naturally transmitted to humans, livestock, or pets. More information on CWD can be found on the VDGIF website.

Two new cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) were detected in Frederick County during the 2013 hunting season. One deer, a 2.5 year old doe, was killed on November 30, 2013, in close proximity to the cluster of five CWD-positive deer harvested in Virginia since 2009. Additionally, a 1.5 year old buck was killed on November 23, 2013, approximately 10 miles southeast of the previously reported cluster. The location of this positive is not surprising, given that many male white-tailed deer disperse miles from their place of birth during their second year. Due to the proximity of this new positive to the eastern border of the current Containment Area (CA), changes to the CA boundaries are expected for the 2014 hunting season.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) would like to thank all of the hunters in Frederick and Shenandoah counties for their excellent cooperation during CWD sample collection this past fall. VDGIF plans to continue collecting CWD samples on the first three Saturdays of regular firearms season during future hunting seasons, along with other management options implemented after the initial detection of CWD in 2009. These management actions include: prohibiting the feeding of deer year-round both in and near the CA, prohibiting the movement of deer carcasses and parts out of the CA (with exceptions), restricting the disposal of deer wastes from the CA, prohibiting the rehabilitation of deer in the CA, and maintaining liberal seasons and bag limits on private lands in an attempt to reduce the deer population. The CA is currently localized to western Frederick and Shenandoah counties, but will likely be expanded for the 2014 hunting season.

As of February, 2014, CWD has been detected in 23 states and two Canadian provinces. The disease is a slow, progressive neurological (brain and nervous system) disease found in deer, elk, and moose in North America. The disease ultimately results in death of the animal. Symptoms exhibited by CWD-infected deer include staggering, abnormal posture, lowered head, drooling, confusion, and marked weight loss. There is no evidence that CWD can be naturally transmitted to humans, livestock, or pets. More information on CWD can be found on the VDGIF website.

RICHMOND, VA- Not unexpectedly, two new cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) have been detected very close to where CWD-infected deer were found in 2009 and 2010. Both deer – a 4.5 year old buck and 1.5 year old doe – were killed by a hunter in November 2011 in western Frederick County, Virginia, very close to the West Virginia border. Given the proximity of these new positives to the previous cases, changes to the current management actions or restrictions are not anticipated, although CWD surveillance in that particular area may be heightened.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) would like to thank all of the hunters in Frederick and Shenandoah counties for their excellent cooperation during CWD sample collection this past fall. VDGIF submitted over 525 samples for CWD testing from deer brought to check stations, self-service drop stations, or deer killed on the road in these two counties. In addition, 1,120 samples distributed over every county in the remainder of the state were submitted for CWD testing and no additional positives were detected.

VDGIF plans to continue collecting CWD samples during future hunting seasons, along with other management options implemented after the initial detection of CWD in 2009. These management actions include: prohibiting the feeding of deer year-round both in and near the Containment Area, prohibiting the movement of deer carcasses and parts out of the Containment Area (with exceptions), restricting the disposal of deer wastes from the Containment Area, prohibiting the rehabilitation of deer in the Containment Area, and maintaining liberal seasons and bag limits on private lands in an attempt to reduce the deer population. The Containment Area is located in western Frederick and Shenandoah Counties.

As of March 12, 2012, CWD has been detected in 19 states and two Canadian provinces. The disease is a slow, progressive neurological (brain and nervous system) disease found in deer, elk, and moose in North America. The disease ultimately results in death of the animal. Symptoms exhibited by CWD-infected deer include, staggering, abnormal posture, lowered head, drooling, confusion, and marked weight loss. There is no evidence that CWD can be naturally transmitted to humans, livestock, or pets. More information on CWD can be found on the VDGIF website.

Richmond, VA — Since Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been detected from two deer harvested in Frederick County, Virginia, deer hunters must follow carcass importation regulations in other states when they transport a deer carcass out of Virginia.

Hunters anywhere in Virginia going into Kentucky or North Carolina must bone-out or quarter their deer carcass so the brain and spinal cord are removed.

Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia will accept whole deer carcasses from Virginia except those originating from Virginia’s CWD Containment Area (see www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd for a map) in which case, carcasses must be boned-out or quartered so the brain and spinal cord are removed.

For Tennessee, whole deer carcasses are allowed except those originating from anywhere in Frederick County and Shenandoah County, where carcasses must be boned-out or quartered so the brain and spinal cord are removed.

For Virginia deer hunters hunting out-of-state, please make note of the following change to Virginia’s carcass importation regulations. Whole deer carcasses from carcass-restriction zones, rather than from the entire state or province where CWD has been detected, are prohibited from entering Virginia. For example, only the counties of Hampshire, Hardy, and Morgan in West Virginia, and the county of Allegany in Maryland, are now restricted. For information regarding other carcass-restriction zones and deer parts allowed to be brought into Virginia from these zones, please visit www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is continuing several management strategies in the northern Shenandoah Valley in response to the detection of CWD. These actions include:

• enforcement of a CWD Containment Area (CA),
• requiring mandatory disease testing on certain days within the CA,
• prohibiting the feeding of deer year-round,
• prohibiting the movement of deer carcasses and parts out of the CA (with exceptions),
• restricting the disposal of deer wastes from the CA,
• prohibiting the rehabilitation of deer in the CA, and
• maintaining liberal seasons and bag limits in an attempt to reduce the deer population.

Just as in previous years, hunters in the Containment Area should be aware of the mandatory sampling days (November 19, 26, and December 3) and be prepared to submit their deer heads for tissue samples. The Department will distribute additional information closer to those dates.

To assist with CWD surveillance, VDGIF is strongly encouraging hunters who harvest deer in the CA on days other than mandatory sampling days to voluntarily submit the head and neck from their deer for testing by bringing it to a self-service refrigerated drop station, which are located in the following places:

• Frederick-Winchester Conservation Club, 527 Siler Road, Winchester (north of Gainesboro)
• Walker’s Cash Store, 3321 Back Road, Woodstock (intersection with St. Luke Road)
• North Mountain Fire and Rescue, 186 Rosenberger Lane, Winchester (off Rt. 600, behind Tom’s Market)
• New Star Market, 2936 John Marshall Hwy, Strasburg (one mile west of I-81)

In addition to surveillance within the CA, VDGIF is collecting 1,000 samples this fall from across the entire state to assess the CWD-status of deer outside the CA.

CWD has been detected in 19 states and two Canadian provinces. The disease is a slow, progressive neurological (brain and nervous system) disease found in deer, elk, and moose in North America. The disease ultimately results in death of the animal. Symptoms exhibited by CWD-infected deer include, staggering, abnormal posture, lowered head, drooling, confusion, and marked weight loss. There is no evidence that CWD can be naturally transmitted to humans, livestock, or pets. Anyone who sees a sick deer that displays any of the signs described above should contact the nearest VDGIF office immediately with accurate location information. Please do not attempt to disturb or kill the deer before contacting VDGIF. More information on CWD can be found on the VDGIF website at www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd.

It is the mission of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth; to provide opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife, inland fish, boating and related outdoor recreation and to work diligently to safeguard the rights of the people to hunt, fish and harvest game as provided for in the Constitution of Virginia; to promote safety for persons and property in connection with boating, hunting and fishing; to provide educational outreach programs and materials that foster an awareness of and appreciation for Virginia’s fish and wildlife resources, their habitats, and hunting, fishing, and boating opportunities. For more information on Virginia’s wildlife management areas, wildlife watching, hunting, fishing and boating, visit the agency’s website at www.dgif.virginia.gov.