Letter to the Editor

Humphrey offers alternative to chronic wasting disease view

Monday, July 7, 2014

Letter to Editor:

In response to the editorial posted in the Daily American Republic on Sunday, June 15, I would like to submit a few facts that are based on science and not only on opinion. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was first found in Colorado in the 1960's. The Colorado Fish and Game research facility has studied CWD for over 40 years. The origin of CWD is not known and might never be known.

Dr. Michael Miller, Wildlife Veterinarian from the Colorado Division of Wildlife, claimed years ago that CWD can be transmitted to susceptible animals indirectly from environments contaminated by decomposed carcasses. Miller indicated that CWD would most likely be spread by hunters harvesting elk and deer in Colorado and Wyoming, and bringing their CWD infected harvest back home to Eastern states. In 2001 CWD was found in Wisconsin; and from 2001 until 2008, the Missouri Department of Conservation did nothing to help prevent it. Hunters should have been educated about the dangers of carcass movement and proper disposal methods.

A recent study led by Kurt C. VerCauteren, a Research Wildlife Biologist, showed that crows may also spread CWD. Crows were fed mice that were inoculated with the infectious proteins (Prions) that cause chronic wasting disease in deer. The crows were then monitored and studies show the prion effectively passed through the digestive system of the crows and remained infectious. The study indicated that crows fly as far as 30 miles to roost and could play a role in the spread of CWD. This study can be found at www.jove.com

According to the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, CWD can also be taken up by plants such as alfalfa. Where does the midwest and eastern states get their quality Alfa? It is also a known fact that CWD is in the wild herds in Missouri's bordering states such as Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Given this information we now know that CWD can walk across state lines. The facts show that CWD can be spread by hunters harvesting deer out West, or scavengers can fly it and/or that it may be coming in from hay we have transported from CWD prone areas in the West. Brett French published an article in the Billings Gazette in October 2013. The article is regarding the decline of the mule deer population in the West. According to a western wildlife agency group that's been tracking mule deer, the animals were in a decline or stable in many western states. However, the theory behind the animals' decline is a loss of habitat. The Wyoming Fish and Game discussed the declining numbers as well and cites the reasons were low fawning rates, competition for food with elk and cattle. Low fawning rates were blamed on too many years of drought conditions and predators.

The MDC claims that Wyoming herds are down 50% due to CWD, however Wyoming says they are 24% below their targeted numbers. In the interview, Wyoming never mentioned CWD as a reason for this decline.

It is important to note that the negative claim that breeding facilities are spreading CWD is inaccurate. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the state agricultural department work closely to ensure that every animal that is sold and moved in to the state has been part of the CWD monitoring program for at least 5 years. There has never been a deer traced back across any state line by breeders that was infected with CWD--not even one! The Missouri Department of Agriculture holds deer and elk breeders to a very high standard that is equal to, or above, the rules and regulations set by the USDA. Our animals are tested for Brucellosis, Tuberculosis, and are CWD monitored.

To target deer and elk breeders as the cause of the spreading of CWD is a huge stretch and just plain unfair. The Missouri Department of Conversation has added new rules to our industry that will be so burdensome that it will put us out of business, and in the end Missouri will still have CWD in the state. The Missouri Department of Agriculture has governed elk breeders since 1996 and is currently regulating deer breeders and the health issues of our deer. They have done a great job of ensuring that CWD is not an issue with the breeding industry. We feel that our deer fall under livestock as they are provided feed, water, shelter, and veterinarian care. They are born in captivity and are required to die in captivity. The Department of Agriculture regulates livestock and Missouri Department of Conservation regulates wildlife.

In order to seek relief from the unreasonable regulations put forth by Missouri Department of Conservation, small business owners went to our state representative in Jefferson City. The Speaker of the House appointed a bi-partisan interim committee to seek out information about CWD. The committee held four meetings around the state and one of those meetings was held in Poplar Bluff. Experts from around the country testified on the subject of CWD including Dr. James Kroll, better known as Dr. Deer by most hunters, along with Dr. Clifford Shipley, a veterinarian from the University of Illinois. The committee then reported back to their colleagues about the hearing.

State Representative Sandy Crawford filed a bill to move the control of the policies and regulations of captive deer to the Missouri Department of Agriculture based on the information obtained from experts. State Representative Todd Richardson made numerous attempts to get the Missouri Department of Conservation to come to the table to discuss reasonable regulations. It was clear the MDC had no interest in talking to deer breeders. Many of our state representatives saw that the MDC was trying to eliminate our businesses as well as violating our property rights. The bill to move captive deer to the Missouri Department of Agriculture was passed 107 for and 43 against.

The Missouri Department of Conservation seems to have double standards, they introduced elk into the state of Missouri that were unmonitored. The Department of Agriculture would not allow deer or elk breeders to do that because of the risk for CWD. The MDC will tell you that they did "rectal mucosal biopsy" tests on those herds, but as it turned out, the test that was performed is not approved as an official test for CWD by the USDA because it is not reliable enough. The Missouri Department of Conservation really doesn't know whether or not the elk they introduced were infected with CWD.

There are several articles available on the internet including the articles I mentioned above. There are still many unanswered questions concerning the spread of CWD, however, it seems that for now the Missouri Department of Conservation is choosing to attach unrealistic regulations to our businesses that may force us to close. I encourage you to do your own research and make up your own mind.

Joe Humphrey

Poplar Bluff, Mo.