MUCC or the Michigan United Conservation Club of which I’m a member has issued their statement regarding the CWD incident in Michigan’s Kent County.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
MUCC Calls for Hunter Cooperation on CWD Crisis
LANSING, MICH – One of Michigan’s greatest fears has been realized.
On Monday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Michigan
Department of Agriculture (DOA) confirmed that a captive white-tailed deer has tested positive for
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a deadly neurological disease that affects deer, elk and moose.
Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), Michigan’s largest and oldest conservation
organization, began an immediate investigation after the tragic announcement late yesterday. MUCC
members who establish the organization’s policy positions have previously adopted resolutions
supporting the fair and equitable phasing-out of captive cervid facilities in addition to a statewide baiting
ban, positions also supported by the DNR. MUCC policy points to preventative disease control in
wildlife populations at the focal point of the baiting/cervid farm debate.
“The discovery of a CWD-positive deer in Michigan is not a warning shot across our bow, it is a
direct hit that could be a potentially lethal blow to this state’s proud hunting heritage and our state
economy,” said MUCC President Bill Krepps. Krepps commended the DNR for initial response efforts
but remained cautiously concerned about the positive identification of CWD in Michigan. “CWD is a
hazardous threat that hunters must take seriously – diseases are scary and dangerous things. But instead of
reacting negatively, now is the time to work together to insulate our deer heard from further spread of this
horrible disease. In order to protect our current and future hunting heritage, Michigan hunters must stop
baiting and feeding deer to prevent CWD and other diseases from not only infecting other animals, but to
ensure a proper long-term scientific management of our herd.”
The DNR’s early response included immediate activation of its CWD contingency plan, which
includes a ban on baiting and feeding of deer and elk in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, a ban on
transportation of deer and a quarantine of captive cervid facilities. Additionally, hunters who harvest deer
in the department’s surveillance “hot zone” in the Kent County townships of Tyrone, Solon, Nelson,
Sparta, Algoma, Courtland, Alpine, Plainfield, and Cannon will be required to participate in a deer check.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that cannot be detected with live animal tests. As such, the
department will also kill and test 300 deer within the “hot zone.” According to the DNR, the response
plan is designed to prevent potential spread of the disease. (Click here to download the DNR response
plan for CWD or visit www.michigan.gov/dnr)
In the meantime, MUCC scheduled an emergency meeting with DNR Director Becky Humphries
and Michigan’s Conservation Coalition for late Tuesday afternoon to discuss implications of the CWD
discovery and address forward action to minimize or prevent its spread. Michigan’s Conservation
Coalition is an alliance of sportsmen groups that are unified to protect five priority areas of the hunting,
fishing, trapping, and conservation community: Sportsmen’s Heritage, Long Term Funding, Habitat and
Access, Hunter/Angler Recruitment and Retention, and the Prevention of Invasive Species.
Deer hunting is big business in Michigan where an estimated $500 million is generated each year
by the state’s firearms deer season which runs from Nov. 15-30. The state is home to nearly one million
deer hunters and has a proud hunting tradition that spans over a century. However, if CWD were to find
its way into the state’s wild deer populations, that heritage and revenue could be in serious jeopardy.
The impact of CWD and eradication efforts on the state’s economy and hunting traditions could
be immense. Neighboring Wisconsin, where CWD was discovered in a wild white-tailed deer in 2002,
has contributed to a 10 percent decrease in hunting license sales, and efforts to eradicate deer from the
Wisconsin CWD area have fallen woefully short. Worse yet, a deep wedge has been driven between the
hunting community and wildlife managers over the handling of the disease.
Who will pay the price if CWD spreads beyond game fences into our wild herds? Sportsmen and
Sportswomen. In Wisconsin, roughly $32 million was spent in 2005 to combat CWD, $26.8 million of
which came from the state’s DNR – monies generated directly from license fees that sportsmen and
sportswomen pay, which is diverted from wildlife management.
“This is a very serious disease with serious implications,” said MUCC Executive Director
Muchmore. “We must do what we can now and hope we haven’t missed the opportunity to minimize the
effect that CWD can have on our wildlife population due to these cervid farms. MUCC is remaining
cautiously optimistic that the steps being taken will hold this disease in check, but in the meantime we’re
keeping a keen eye on the management of this crisis to ensure the smallest possible impact on our
treasured natural resources.”
###
Contact:
Dave Nyberg, Resource Policy Specialist (517) 346-6462
Amy Spray, Resource Policy Specialist (517) 346-6484
About MUCC
Michigan United Conservation Clubs has been Michigan’s first voice for Michigan’s out-of-doors since
1937. With over 45,000 members and 400 affiliated clubs throughout the state, MUCC’s primary
objective is Uniting Citizens to Conserve, Protect, and Enhance Michigan’s Natural Resources and
Outdoor Heritage.
With all the activity on the CWD issue, we must remember that this was in a captive deer on a private ranch. It was NOT in a wild Whitetail Deer. We must remember that. I am still trying to get my hands around this situation. It is an emotional and spirited debate. Whether you bait or not, this effects YOU! The face of deer hunting in Michigan as we know it has changed OVER NIGHT! Whether we like it or not, we all have to confront this problem and do what it takes to help erradicate it. So instead of complaining or pointing fingers, lets all get on board and do our part!
