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IMPORTING DEER AND ELK CARCASSES FROM
CWD STATES ILLEGAL
October 16, 2006
Contact: Robert Vanderhoof (850) 210-4839
It is illegal to bring into Florida carcasses of
any species of the family Cervidae (e.g. deer, elk and moose)
from 10 states and one Canadian province where chronic wasting
disease (CWD) has been detected, according to the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The states and Canadian province where the
deadly disease has been detected are: New Mexico, Utah,
Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois,
New York, West Virginia and Alberta, Canada. Visit the United
States Department of Agriculture’s Web site at
www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahps/cwd/ for the most up-to-date CWD
coverage.
“To date, no cases of CWD have been found in
Florida,” said Deer Program coordinator Robert Vanderhoof of the
FWC’s Division of Hunting and Game Management. “Hunters can help
prevent the spread of CWD into Florida by observing the
restrictions placed on bringing carcasses in from other areas
where the disease has been detected.”
CWD, first identified in Colorado in 1967, is a
disease that affects the central nervous system and is related
to "mad cow" disease in cattle and scrapie in sheep. The disease
always proves fatal to the infected animal, but there are no
known cases of it being transmitted to people, domestic animals
or livestock.
Hunters still can bring back de-boned meat from
any CWD-affected region, as well as finished
taxidermy mounts, hides, skulls, antlers and teeth as long as
all soft tissue has been removed.
Whole, bone-in carcasses and parts are permitted
to be brought back to Florida if they were harvested from
non-affected CWD areas.
To report sick or dead deer suspected of having
CWD, call the CWD hotline (866) 293-9282. For more information
about CWD, visit
MyFWC.com/cwd.
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