Published: October 22, 2007 10:57 pm      

BILL HILTS: Another disease confirmed in Albany County deer

COMMENTARY

Another disease has shown up for the first time in New York state’s deer herd — epizootic hemorrhagic disease. It was discovered when the remains of more than 20 deer were found in the greater Voorheesville area of Albany County earlier this month.

Several carcasses were sent to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s wildlife pathology laboratory in Delmar. In addition to EHD, the deer were also tested for chronic wasting disease, rabies, poisoning and other potential mortality possibilities. EHD was confirmed last week and it's important to note that EHD does not pose a threat to human health.

EHD is a disease that primarily affects deer. It is transmitted through biting flies called midges, primarily in the late summer and fall. When frosts or cold weather occurs, the flies die off and the disease subsides. EHD is common in many of the southeastern states and it has been reported throughout the mid-Atlantic this summer. This has been a problem this year with deer in eastern Pennsylvania. EHD normally affects only localized pockets of animals within a small geographic area. It has not had any long term effects on a state’s deer herd.

The symptoms of EHD include swollen neck, head, tongue or eyelids; erosion of the dental pad or ulcers on the tongue; hemorrhaging of the heart, lungs, rumen and intestines; peeling of hooves; and high fever, leading infected deer to sometimes be found near water. For more information about EHD, go to www.uga.edu/scwds/index.htm.

With the Southern Zone archery season upon us, the DEC is requesting some hunter cooperation in locating any sick, dying or dead animals you may come across this fall. Sick or dead deer should be reported promptly by calling the DEC at (800) TIPP-DEC. The DEC is also reminding hunters to take the following precautions when harvesting deer:

n Do not handle or eat any deer that appears sick, act strangely or are found dead.

n Wear rubber gloves when field dressing a deer and process your game promptly.

n Wash instruments and any parts of the body exposed to animal tissues, blood, urine, etc., thoroughly with soap and water.

n If you are taking your deer to a processor, request that the animals are processed individually, without mixing or coming in contact with meat from other animals.

n Avoid the consumption of organ meat (including brain, spinal cord, spleen, pancreas, eyes, tonsils and lymph nodes). Hunters should have their deer boned out and have as much fat, connective tissue and lymph nodes removed as possible.

n Hunters should not consume any animal known or suspected to having CWD or other illnesses.

Farm bill needs support

If it’s not too late, pick up the phone and call your state senator and let him or her know that you support the need for increased funding for conservation to help farmers protect our air, water, land and wildlife habitat.

The Senate must provide at least $5 billion in additional funding for conservation programs to begin addressing unmet demands from farmers and keep existing programs in operation. The House of Representatives provided nearly that much but they did not adequately fund all conservation programs.

The farm bill is reauthorized every five years. Congress has already cut the funding committed to conservation programs in the previous farm bill. More than $5 billion in conservation funding has been withheld. And these cuts were made despite the fact that as many as three quarters of all eligible farmers and ranchers are turned away due to lack of funds.

Pick up the phone and call (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senator. Then ask for the staff person working on the farm bill. If they are not there, talk to the person who answers the phone. Tell them to commit to at least $5 billion more to conservation funding, additional funding to important conservation programs such as the Wetlands Reserve Program, Conservation Security Program and Grassland Reserve — they cannot be shortchanged again. Dozens of other conservation organizations are asking for same increase in conservation funding. Let's hope it's not too late.

Archery deer season continues in Southern Zone

Archery deer season in the Southern Zone is into its second week and moving into what should be one of the best of the fall. However, the unseasonably warm temperatures and a ton of leaves on the trees have led to some early complications. Hopefully, weather patterns will be back to normal by the end of the week.

Not everyone has been upset with the weather and the way things have been going with the hunt this fall. John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda was hunting the Marilla area for opening weekend. Twenty minutes into his stand, a beautiful 10-pointer came meandering into his woods. One arrow later, he had himself another trophy — tipping the meat scale at 204 pounds. The rack was very unusual, too, with a mass unique enough to convince his wife, Denise, that he needed another trophy on the wall. It must have been a weak moment.

A few other nice deer have been taken, as well. We're still getting details on a nice 10-pointer from Pendleton. In the meantime, if you want to share a hunting story, send me an e-mail. Good luck and be safe.

3-F Club winter skeet meeting

The 3-F Club of Lewiston will be holding a meeting to finalize plans for this year's Winter Skeet League at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Anyone competing in the league this year, is interested in fielding a team or thinking about participating as an individual should try to attend. The club is located at 904 Swann Road, across from the Fatima Shrine.

Bill Hilts Jr. is the outdoor sports specialist with the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation. Contact him at bhiltsjr69@cs.com.