Oh Deer

Oh Deer: Hunting Season Opens With Warnings About Chronic Wasting Disease

Deer down
Deer down Photo: iStockPhoto

Though evidence suggests humans can’t contract chronic wasting disease from consuming the flesh of an animal sickened with the fatal neurological disease, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today aren’t taking any chances on it spreading through the state’s wild deer populations as whitetail season opens for hunting with firearms. According to the AP, the state is requiring hunters take deer from parts of York and Adams counties to get the carcasses tested for the disease, and issuing warnings about taking extra precautions when field-dressing deer, and shooting only deer that look healthy. Earlier this year the contagious disease turned up in captive herds, but its yet to be found in the wild. [AP via Pocono Record]

Oh Deer: Hunting Season Opens With Warnings About Chronic Wasting Disease