With the recent confirmation of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a Pennsylvania deer, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is reminding hunters of the ban on importing intact deer carcasses from CWD-positive jurisdictions such as Pennsylvania and New York, into Massachusetts.
To prevent the possibility of this disease entering Massachusetts, regulations were adopted making it illegal for anyone to import, process or possess whole carcasses or parts of deer, elk, or moose (from the wild or from captive herds) from states and Canadian provinces where CWD has been found. The only exceptions to the regulations are meat that is deboned, cleaned skull caps, hides without the head, or a finished taxidermy mount. Also, it is illegal to import live deer of any species into Massachusetts for any purpose. This ban includes animals used in deer farming practices and those used seasonally for petting zoos or holiday displays.
To date, CWD has been found in wild or captive deer or elk in 23 states and provinces: Alberta, Canada; Colorado; Iowa; Illinois; Kansas; Maryland; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; New Mexico; North Dakota; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Saskatchewan, Canada; South Dakota; Texas; Utah; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin; and Wyoming.
CWD is a contagious neurological disease fatal to deer, moose, elk, and other members of the cervid (deer) family. CWD attacks the brains of infected animals, resulting in their becoming emaciated, exhibiting abnormal behavior, and eventually dying.
A CWD monitoring and testing program for wild cervids has been conducted in Massachusetts by MassWildlife since 2002. Currently, MassWildlife is only testing deer or moose displaying symptoms of disease. CWD has not been found in Massachusetts deer or moose.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The World Health Organization, there is no evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans. Hunters have been taking and eating deer, elk and moose from the infected areas of Colorado and Wyoming for more than 30 years.
For more information about CWD and FAQs, visit http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/wildlife/diseases/cwd_info.htm.
