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DNR plans deer herd reduction in northwestern Minnesota
29.jan.07
Jordan Independent (MN)
Mathias Baden
http://www.jordannews.com/node/1450
Five wild deer harvested this fall in northwestern Minnesota near bovine tuberculosis (TB)-infected cattle operations tested presumptive positive for the disease, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The DNR will contract with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sharpshooters and take additional actions for removal of deer potentially infected with the disease. The presumed positive deer from this year are in addition to two deer from the same area found positive for bovine TB during last year's testing. Final test results from 2006 are pending.
"The discovery of more bovine TB-infected cattle operations and deer in 2006 prompted this effort to protect the long-term health of the deer population," said Dr. Michelle Powell, DNR wildlife health program coordinator. "Temporarily reducing deer numbers in highly localized areas will minimize the chance that this disease will begin to spread through deer-to-deer or deer-to-livestock contact. The DNR is committed to working with livestock producers and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health to regain the state's bovine TB-free status."
Bovine TB has been found in seven cattle operations in the area. All of the bovine TB positive deer have been located on or within a few miles of TB positive cattle farms near Skime, about 35 miles south of the Canadian border.
Following an aerial survey next week to assess deer numbers and distribution, USDA Wildlife Services sharpshooters will begin to reduce deer numbers in a six-mile radius surrounding the farms where bovine TB was detected near Skime. USDA Wildlife Services employs teams of trained sharpshooters who are experienced and skilled in efficiently removing large numbers of deer for wildlife damage and health and safety reasons.
These teams will take deer on public land and will also work with landowners to take deer on private land with the landowner's permission.
All deer taken will be tested for bovine TB. Meat from deer with no obvious bovine TB infection will be salvaged and released for human consumption. DNR will provide information and food safety guidelines for proper handling and cooking of venison.
"The DNR's effort to reduce the deer population in selected areas of northwest Minnesota is an important step in the process of eradicating bovine TB from the state," said Minnesota Board of Animal Health Executive Director and State Veterinarian Dr. Bill Hartmann, "With each TB-infected deer we remove and each herd we test, Minnesota moves closer to regaining its bovine-TB free status."
The DNR will also continue to issue shooting permits to interested landowners in the affected areas. Last year, landowners took 90 deer under shooting permits. After the sharp-shooting effort the DNR will consider additional management options, possibly in a broader area, including liberalized hunting seasons, special hunts, bonus permits or extended seasons.
"We recognize that this will likely have a temporary, negative affect on deer hunting in the immediate area and we regret any short-term impacts to local hunters," Powell said. "However, taking aggressive action before the disease begins to spread through the deer population ensures the long-term health of the deer herd and good deer hunting in the future. We expect deer numbers will quickly rebound after the completion of this effort."
The DNR will continue to monitor deer for TB in the area throughout the next several years by sampling hunter-harvested deer.
Bovine TB is a bacterial disease that primarily affects cattle; however, other animals may become infected. It is known to occur in Michigan deer but does not persist in deer anywhere else in the United States. Cooking meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees destroys the bacteria. When field dressing all game, the DNR recommends the use of gloves to prevent exposure to a number of diseases, including salmonella and E. coli.