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TexasTowelie

(116,793 posts)
Sun Jan 13, 2019, 02:55 AM Jan 2019

DEC Wants Rare 'Exotic' Deer Spotted Upstate Targeted, Killed As Precaution

Conservation officials in New York are encouraging hunters to target and kill an “exotic” non-native species of deer that has been spotted in the state and may potentially infect native animals in the area with a deadly disease.

The New York State Department of Conservation has received several trail photos of a male sika deer, according to a report from New York Upstate . The small elk is native to Japan and eastern Asia, and at least two sources have sent photos to environmental officials.

According to the report, Jerry Grigonis, of Fulton, said he first noticed the deer on his trail camera in Granby, a small town in Oswego County, in November. The sika deer has not been found in New York outside of some sightings on Long Island more than a decade ago.

Officials are concerned the sika deer could carry chronic wasting disease, “a fatal, neurological illness occurring in North American members of the deer family, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose,” according to the U.S. Geological Survey. If it does, there is potential that this species could spread the illness to the local white-tailed deer population.

Read more: https://dailyvoice.com/new-york/yonkers/news/dec-wants-rare-exotic-deer-spotted-upstate-targeted-killed-as-precaution/746754/

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DEC Wants Rare 'Exotic' Deer Spotted Upstate Targeted, Killed As Precaution (Original Post) TexasTowelie Jan 2019 OP
Why not catch it and take it to a zoo or private sanctuary instead? Liberty Belle Jan 2019 #1
My thoughts exactly! Rhiannon12866 Jan 2019 #2
Chronic wating disease is serious biz... 2naSalit Jan 2019 #3

2naSalit

(92,705 posts)
3. Chronic wating disease is serious biz...
Sun Jan 13, 2019, 06:01 AM
Jan 2019

there's no known cure and if they took it to some facility, CWD would spread throughout and wipe out the facility. It is a terminal disease condition.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_wasting_disease#Transmission_pathways

We watch for it out here in Montana, it's a problem in other states. Sadly, killing it is the best remedy as the animal will suffer a horrible death if it does have the disease. And being an exotic species, it's best to remove it from the environment. I understand the squee factor and I am a wildlife conservationist but this one animal cold be a disaster in the making on a number of levels.

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