Killing all the deer on the farm doesn’t remove the prions from the ground because they’re pretty much there forever and just re-infect deer once they return.
Agreed.
So if we are really looking out for humans and the deer herds long term well being, what does reducing herds temporarily solve?
If long term unknowns are such a concern, what does short term herd reductions solve, when it lives in the soil? It’ll continually cycle and return indefinitely.
Not trying to be combative or a thorn, but the long term well being of humans and the deer herd have little to do with short term herd reductions. It’s a feel good approach to make it seem like something is being done. If we are that concerned and it’s that big of a deal, which I think it probably is, shouldn’t the area it was found in be a ground zero type scenario and every deer removed aggressively from that area and deer kept heavily suppressed and off that landscape?
Bird feeders, ag fields, deer feeders, anywhere deer congregate, those deer should be eliminated by any means necessary. If not, it’s doomed to failure and the spread will continue no matter our efforts. It’s impossible to kill every deer in that area, and in turn nearly impossible to accurately monitor its spread. Testing deer is no more than monitoring the progression or spread of cwd on a minuscule level. Yes, it gives the dnr an idea off models and data. All the deer tested and the odd ball they find dead in January is a positive, what are the odds?
8,600 deer tested and not one positive.
One found randomly and it tests positive.
We hunt in 178 ne of 604 and I don’t want cwd in 178. Am all for applicable measures to curb it’s spread and finding a way to eliminate cwd. But when the dnr thinks they are going to eliminate it by a couple years of herd reductions, I personally question their validity when it lives in the soil for a long time.
