CWD disease discovered in a Carbon County buck

Just when the number of CWD disease cases in deer seemed to quiet down, a recent case of a buck infected with it was discovered in nearby Packer Township, Carbon County. 

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, this was the first CWD case detected in Carbon County that is more than 10 miles from any other confirmed positive deer. The buck was found dead by a landowner and it was severely emaciated. 

The PGC explains that as always-fatal neurological disease is caused by a misfolded protein called a prion, and is a serious threat to deer and elk. It’s classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) and is similar to scraple in sheep, mad cow disease in cattle can Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease in humans. CWD spreads, says the agency through direct animal-animal contact, as well as indirectly through prion-contaminated environments. CWD-infected deer shed prions through saliva, urine and feces, and infested carcasses contribute to environmental contamination. The concerning part is that once in soil, CWD prions remain infectious for decades. Therefore, feeding deer is strongly discouraged and is illegal within existing DMA areas. 

As for humans, there is no evidence of CWD affecting them or other species under natural conditions. Of course, much is still unknown about CWD, therefore the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends not eating the meat of a CWD-positive deer. If CWD should spread with lots more cases discovered, it could put a damper on deer hunting in the state, a sport that has made Pennsylvania one of the top three in the country as far as deer numbers and rack size, the latter thanks to Gary Alt’s points per antler regulation he recommended and the agency instituted several years ago. 

The PGC will host an informational meeting to answer any questions from the public on Thursday, Feb. 27, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.at Penn State Hazelton Graham Building Room 115, Parking Lot F. For more information, contact the PGC’s CWD Hotline at 833-INFOCWD, or email them at [email protected] or visit www.arcg.is/1G4TLr. 

PRE-SEASON TROUT STOCKING BEGIN

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will start their initial pre-season trout stocking this month. They are as follows however not all portions of each creek will be stocked on dates listed:

*Feb 19, the upper portion of the Little Lehigh from Spring Creek to Wild Cherry Lane
*Feb. 25, Kistler, Ontelaunee and Switzer creeks; *Feb. 26, Jordan Creek; *Feb. 29, Little Lehigh; *Mar. 4, Jordan Creek; *Mar. 5, Cedar and Coplay creeks; Mar. 6, Monocacy Creek; Mar. 7, Laurel Run, Little Lehigh, Swabia creeks; Mar. 13, Jordan Creek; Mar. 21, Leaser Lake, Trout Creek; Mar. 26, Lehigh Canal.
​
More trout stockings will be forthcoming.