The Department of Environmental Conservation announced last week that a case of Chronic Wasting Disease was found in a red deer in the Town of Columbia.
This is the first confirmed case in New York state since 2005.
The infected deer was not in the wild, but on a captive deer facility on Haynor Road and discovered with the disease during routine testing Oct. 27.
To test whether CWD has spread to the wild deer population, the DEC is asking hunters in the towns of Columbia, German Flatts, Warren and Richfield to report the any odd behavior by deer to DEC immediately.
Additionally, hunters who harvest a deer in these towns and in Litchfield or Winfield should save the deer’s head for testing.
The DEC can be contacted at cwd.response@dec.ny.gov or 315-785-2263.
Columbia Town Supervisor Nathan Seaman said he wants hunters to be aware of the issue and follow DEC directives because of the potential health hazard.
Drop-off points:
Town of Columbia
936 Jordanville Road, Ilion, NY 13367 (sand building)
147 County Route 259, Ilion, NY 13357 (town hall)
Town of Litchfield
804 Cedarville Road, Ilion, NY 13357 (highway department)
Town of Winfield
306 Stone Road, West Winfield, NY 13491(highway department)
Town of Herkimer
225 North Main Street, Herkimer NY 13350 (Herkimer DEC Office)
Town of Richfield
Boss Farm, 1545 County Route 25, Richfield Springs 13439.
The State is also continuing to investigate how CWD was introduced into this herd, which is a closed herd with an extensive testing history in a CWD non-detect state.
The deer herd owner sourced the deer from a USDA- CWD-free certified herd and routinely submitted animals for CWD testing.
The owner is fully cooperating with the investigation and has provided all necessary information to assist the state with their search for the source of this infection.
CWD is an infectious, degenerative disease that causes brain cells to die, ultimately leading to the death of the affected animal.
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