Information on Response to Discovery of Deer Disease Will Be Provided

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced a series of statewide meetings to be held during the month of September to inform the public of DEC efforts in response to the limited discovery of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild and captive white-tailed deer in New York State. Meetings are being held in all nine DEC regions. A complete listing of dates, times, and locations is attached.

DEC implemented intensive monitoring efforts in wild herds after CWD was found in two captive white-tailed deer herds in Oneida County — the first incidents of CWD in New York State. On April 8, 2005, the State Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) completed testing of the captive deer and found a total of five positive results for CWD in the two captive herds.

The first positive result for CWD in a wild deer was announced on April 27, 2005 and came from a yearling white-tailed deer sampled from the Town of Verona, Oneida County. The second positive result came from a 3-year-old doe, located within a mile of the location where the initial positive result was detected. The sample tissues were tested at the State’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University. These are the first known occurrences of CWD in wild deer in New York State.

CWD is a transmissible disease that affects the brain and central nervous system of certain deer and elk. There is no evidence that CWD is linked to disease in humans or domestic livestock other than deer and elk. More information on CWD can be found at DEC’s website at www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/deer/currentcwd.html

Commissioner Sheehan also announced that significant progress has been made ensuring all captive deer herds and wildlife rehabilitators are in compliance with all animal health inspection and CWD prevention regulations. Joint DEC and Department of Agriculture and Markets teams have inspected more than 95 percent of deer farms possessing white-tailed deer and more than two-thirds of all wildlife rehabilitators who are licensed to rehabilitate white-tailed deer. The remaining facilities are expected to be inspected before the end of August. Each inspection team included DAM veterinarians or veterinary technicians, DEC wildlife biologists and DEC Environmental Conservation Officers.

“Our interagency teams have focused on bringing all captive domestic whitetail deer farms, and wildlife rehabilitators known to handle distressed wild whitetail deer, into full compliance with CWD prevention regulations,” Commissioner Sheehan said “We have inspected more than 250 facilities in recent months. While many deer farmers and rehabilitators are in compliance or were found to have minor record keeping or reporting violations presenting little threat to the wild whitetail deer herd, we have zero tolerance for violation of our CWD prevention regulations.”

At the statewide informational meetings in September, representatives from DEC will present information on the discovery of CWD and provide details on the State’s response with up-to-date information on the State’s regulations aimed at ensuring the proper handling of deer and prevention of further spread of the disease. The regulations established a containment area in Oneida County, where CWD has been identified. The containment area is comprised of Oneida County municipalities, including the cities of Rome, Sherrill, and Utica, as well as the towns of Augusta, Floyd, Marcy, Trenton, Whitestown, Verona, Westmoreland, Vernon, Kirkland, New Hartford, Vienna, Annsville, Lee, and Western. In addition, the Madison County towns of Stockbridge and Lenox and City of Oneida are also included. Within the containment area, DEC’s regulations:

  • prohibit the movement of certain animal parts out of the containment area; establish mandatory DEC check stations for any deer taken by hunters in the containment area;
  • prohibit possession of any deer killed by a motor vehicle in the containment area so DEC can acquire specimens for testing; individuals who see a sick or dead deer should call DEC at (315) 336-4809; and
  • prohibit the collection, sale, possession or transport of deer or elk urine taken from the containment area.

In addition to the requirements listed for the containment area, DEC’s regulations include provisions to be followed by individuals and facilities across the State. The regulations also:

  • establish specific record keeping and reporting requirements for taxidermists and require measures to prevent live cervids from coming in contact with any materials, including taxidermy materials, that may contain the infectious agent that causes CWD;
  • prohibit rehabilitation of wild white-tailed deer at facilities that house live cervids;
  • require retailers who sell deer feed to post a sign provided by DEC to advise buyers of the State prohibition on feeding wild deer; regulations also prohibit the sale of deer feed that is packaged or labeled for wild white-tailed deer.

The meeting dates and locations are as follows:

  • Ballston Spa; September 6 (Tuesday) 7-9 p.m. – Cornell Cooperative Ext., 50 West High St. (State Rt. 67), Ballston Spa. Directions: From Exit 12 of I-87 (Northway), follow Rt. 67 West into the Village of Ballston Spa. Rt. 67 turns left onto High St. at a traffic light. The Cornell Cooperative Extension Building is one block on the right side. Additional parking is across the street.
  • Oneonta; September 7 (Wednesday) 7 p.m. – Holiday Inn, State Rt. 23, Oneonta. 607-433-2250. Directions: From I-88 take exit 15. Travel east on Rt. 23. At a “T” turn left (continuing east on Rt. 23) for about 1 mile. The Holiday Inn is on the right.
  • Paul Smiths; September 8 (Thursday) 7-9 p.m. – New York State Adirondack Park Agency Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) at Paul Smiths. Directions: The VIC is on Rt.30 about 2 miles north of Paul Smiths.
  • Binghamton; September 8 (Thursday) 7-9 p.m. – Chenango Valley High School, 1160 Chenango St., Binghamton. Directions: Just south of exit 2 off Rt. 88.
  • Kinderhook; September 12 (Monday) 7 p.m. – North Pointe Cultural Arts Center, 62 Chatham Street (Rt. 9), Kinderhook. 518-758-9234. Directions: From I-90, exit 12, travel 7 miles south on Route 9 to Kinderhook. North Point is located on the left directly across from a Stewart’s shop.
  • Canandaigua; September 19 (Monday) 7 p.m. – Ontario County Safety and Training Facility, 2914 County Rd #48, Canandaigua. 585-396-4310. Directions: From Rtes 5 & 20, turn north onto Smith Rd (near Walmart.). At the stop sign, turn right (east) onto County Rd 46. After ½ mile, turn left (north) onto County Rd 48 to end.
  • Lockport; September 19 (Monday) 7 p.m. – Niagara County Cooperative Extension, 4H Center, Lockport. Directions: Located one mile north of the City of Lockport on Route 78.
  • Herkimer; September 21 (Wednesday) 7-9 p.m. – Herkimer County Community College, Herkimer, small auditorium/student center. Directions: Herkimer Exit of NYS Thruway (Exit 30), north on Rte 28, turn left onto Caroline street, follow to its end. Turn left on W. German Street, then right onto Lou Ambers Blvd to HCCC.
  • Chili; September 21 (Wednesday) 7 p.m. – Chili Town Hall, 3333 Chili Ave., Chili. 585- 889-6125. Directions: From I-490 West, take the Rte.386 exit (Exit 5) toward Chili Center. Turn left onto Rte. 386 (Chili Center Coldwater Rd.). Turn right onto Chili Ave. (Rte. 33A). Enter through middle door.
  • Cuba; September 21 (Wednesday) 7 p.m. – Cuba-Rushford High School Auditorium, Cuba. Directions: One mile north of Cuba exit (Exit 28) of I-86 (Southern Tier Expressway) at 5476 Route 305.
  • Selden; September 22 (Thursday) 7:30-9:30 p.m. – Campus of Suffolk County Community College, Ammerman Campus, Selden. The meeting will be in the Montauk Room of the Babylon Student Center. 631-451-4110. Directions: Take the Long Island Expressway to Exit 62 North. Proceed north on Nicolls Road (CR97) about 2 miles to second traffic light. Turn right at the main campus entrance, proceed around the traffic circle onto West Rd., follow signs for parking for the Babylon Student Center.
  • Rome; September 22 (Thursday) 7-9 p.m. – Rome Free Academy Auditorium, 95 Dart Circle, Griffiss Technology Park, Rome. Directions: From Route 365, turn north onto Route 825 (Hill Road), then left onto Mobile Ave, then left to Dart Circle.
  • Syracuse; September 22 (Thursday) 7-9 p.m. – NYS Fairgrounds Art and Home Center, Martha Eddy Room, 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse. Directions: Just off exit 7 of Rt. 690. Go to gate 2.
  • North Boston; September 26 (Monday) 7 p.m. – Boston Valley Elementary School, North Boston. Directions: Route 219 Expressway to the exit for Route 391/Boston-Hamburg, go south on Route 391 for 0.8 miles; west on Zimmerman Road for 0.25 miles then south on Back Creek Road.
  • Millbrook; September 27 (Tuesday) 7 p.m. – Dutchess County Farm and Home Center 2715 Directions: Rt 44 approximately 2 miles east of the Taconic Parkway, Millbrook.
  • Albany; September 27 (Tuesday) 7 p.m. – Clarion Hotel of Albany, 3 Watervliet Ave Extension, Albany. 518 438-8431. Directions: Just south of I-90, Exit 5, turn left off Evert Road on to Watervliet Extension. The Hotel is on the left.
  • Bath; September 27 (Tuesday) 7 p.m. – Days Inn, 330 West Morris St., Bath. 607-738-8566. Directions: From I-86 (Rte. 17), take Rte. 54 exit (Exit 38). Turn onto NY 54/West Washington St. and head toward Bath/Hammondsport. Turn right onto West Morris St.
  • Watertown; September 28 (Wednesday) 7-9 p.m. – Dulles State Office Building Auditorium, first floor conference room, 317 Washington St., Watertown. Directions: Downtown, across from Best Western Hotel.
  • Jamestown; September 28 (Wednesday) 7 p.m. – Jamestown Community College, Jamestown. Directions: Take Route 60 south from Exit 12 of I-86 (Southern Tier Expressway) to Buffalo Street, east on Buffalo Street to Falconer Street, then east on Falconer Street to James Street, north on James Street to the theater in the Carnahan Building (north end of college parking lot).
  • Goshen; September 29 (Thursday) 7 p.m. – Orange-Ulster BOCES, 53 Gibson Rd, Goshen. Directions: Exit 124 off Rt 17 – take Rt 17A approximately 1 mile, take a right on Gibson Rd
  • Potsdam; September 29 (Thursday) 7-9 p.m. – Potsdam High School Auditorium, 29 Leroy Street, Potsdam. Directions: Leaving the center of the village of Potsdam, traveling east on state route 11, Leroy Street is a left hand turn.
  • Ferndale; October 5 (Wednesday) 7 p.m. – Granite Associates, One Cablevision Center, Ferndale. Directions: From Rt 17 west take exit 101, make right off exit look for CVI sign on right, from Rt 17 east take exit 101 at end of ramp make left then at “T” make another left look for CVI sign on right.

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