Following last week’s confirmation of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) found in a captive deer, New York State continues to investigate the detection to protect New York’s wild deer population. CWD was detected in one captive red deer in a private deer farm located in Herkimer County during routine agriculture-based surveillance efforts conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM). The presence of CWD was confirmed through testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories. Working with state and federal partners, AGM quarantined the captive deer herd in accordance with the State’s Interagency CWD Response Plan.
CWD is an infectious, degenerative disease of cervids, such as deer, moose, and elk, that causes brain cells to die, ultimately leading to the death of the affected animal. The incubation period can be lengthy and infected animals may look healthy until the end stages of the disease, making them difficult to distinguish from healthy animals. Animals infected with CWD can transmit the disease to other animals during the silent incubation period, so controlling the disease and preventing its spread to the wild deer population is imperative, for both animal welfare and ecological health. USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services will depopulate and AGM will test all deer on the premises to reduce the potential of disease transmission to other deer.
At this time, there is no evidence that CWD is present in wild deer. Although the threat to public health from the captive deer herd detection is low and there is no strong evidence that CWD can infect humans, people should not consume meat from a CWD-positive deer. As with any game, people should not consume meat from animals that appear sick.
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 beyond the state’s minimum requirements. 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.
As part of the ongoing investigation, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is enhancing surveillance of wild deer in the area, which includes working with USDA Wildlife Services and cooperating landowners to collect wild deer on private properties immediately adjacent to the captive facility.
Hunters can help disease surveillance efforts by voluntarily submitting harvested deer heads to drop boxes deployed at several locations in Herkimer and Otsego Counties, including in the Towns of Columbia, German Flatts, Litchfield, Warren, Winfield, and Richfield.
Outside of these townships, hunters who wish to have their deer tested may submit a sample to the Cornell University Wildlife Health lab (https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/hunter-cwd-testing). Hunters will be notified if there is a positive result. Hunters with a positive result should contact DEC’s Region 6 Wildlife Office at 315-785-2263 or email at [email protected] to dispose of the venison safely and properly.
Hunters are encouraged to continue participating in big game seasons. In states where CWD is present, hunting remains an important wildlife management tool. Please sign up for the State’s hunting newsletters at https://dec.ny.gov/news/dec-delivers to receive the latest updates as the State’s CWD investigation continues.
Anyone that observes sick or dying deer, including roadkill deer, in the towns of Columbia, German Flatts, or Warren in Herkimer County, and the town of Richfield in Otsego County, should report the deer at [email protected] or call DEC’s Region 6 Wildlife Office (315-785-2263).
CWD Sampling Drop-Off Locations:
Town of Warren
- 131 Hyde-Bell Lane, Jordanville NY 13361 (highway department)
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
AGM monitors the health and movement of all captive deer and elk for the presence of common livestock diseases, including CWD. In 2004, AGM initiated the CWD Enhanced Surveillance and Monitoring Program, which requires captive deer and elk herd owners to take various actions, including routine sampling and testing, animal identification, and an annual herd inventory.
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