Chronic wasting disease (CWD), an always fatal neurological disease that affects whitetail deer and other cervids, is closing in on Kentucky but state game officials are determined to keep it at bay.
After CWD was recently detected in 10 deer killed in Tennessee, Kentucky wildlife officials extended a ban that prohibits the transport of any deer, elk or other cervid into Kentucky unless the brain and spinal cord have been removed. The ban now applies to any cervid taken anywhere outside Kentucky and is effective immediately. It previously applied only to cervids taken from states or provinces where CWD had been detected.
Chronic wasting disease has not been found in Kentucky. It has been reported or detected in at least 25 states, including Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee, six of the seven states that border Kentucky.
Kentucky wildlife agency spokesman Kevin Kelly said quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal cord or head attached, boned-out meat, antlers, antlers attached to a clean skull plate, a clean skull, clean teeth, hides and finished taxidermy works can be brought into Kentucky.
Details at www.fw.ky.gov or call the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources at 1-800-858-1549.
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