Animal Health Newsletter

              Vol. 6 No.2 June 2002
Emergency rules were filed on April 19, 2002,
banning the importation of captive deer and elk into Illinois
in a continuing effort to prevent chronic wasting disease
from coming into the state.
The new rules filed by the Illinois Department of
Agriculture also require a permit to be obtained by an
owner before any captive deer or elk change ownership or
move within the state. In addition, the animals must come
from a herd enrolled in a monitored herd program. The
new rules took effect immediately.
“We must take this action to keep chronic wasting
disease out of Illinois, to protect our farmers who raise
captive herds of deer and elk and to protect our wild
herds,” said Illinois Agriculture Director Joe Hampton.
“We appreciate the assistance we have received from
owners of captive herds and sportsmen in implementing
these changes and in monitoring the health of deer and elk
in the state.”
The import ban was recommended by a task force of
key staff from the Departments of Agriculture and Natural
Resources. The emergency rule will remain in place for no
more than 150 days, until a new rule is adopted. The task
force is continuing to gather information and develop
strategies for addressing CWD issues. The new rule will
reopen the borders to imported deer and elk, but only to
those herds maintaining a strict surveillance program.
“There are still a lot of unknowns regarding chronic
wasting disease. We want to take every necessary
precaution to prevent CWD from coming into Illinois,”
IDNR Director Brent Manning said. “This step is not a
permanent solution, but allows us time to assess what’s
occurring on the national landscape. During the coming
weeks and months, we will be working together to put
additional safeguards in place.”
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease
found in deer and elk. The disease attacks the brains of
infected animals, causing them to become emaciated,
display abnormal behavior, lose coordination and
eventually die. Although chronic wasting disease has
never been diagnosed in Illinois, the disease has been
found in captive deer and elk herds in Colorado, Kansas,
Nebraska, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota and the
Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. It has
also been confirmed in wild deer herds in Colorado,
Wyoming, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Scientists test for chronic wasting disease by
examining brain tissue of animals. Illinois regulations
require that any captive cervid (member of the deer/elk
family) that dies from an unknown cause and has exhibited
a neurological disorder must be tested for chronic wasting
disease. Programs are in place for establishing Certified
Monitored Chronic Wasting Disease herds and Contained
Monitored Chronic Wasting Disease herds for captive elk
and deer.
Illinois has participated in a “targeted surveillance
program” for chronic wasting disease in wild deer for two
years. Deer exhibiting symptoms that could be caused by
CWD are submitted for testing . During the fall 2001
shotgun deer season, Illinois officials also systematically
sampled hunter­harvested
deer from around the state for
testing. To date, no Illinois animals have tested positive
for CWD, but surveillance efforts for the disease are being
expanded in response to the diagnosis of CWD in wild
deer in Wisconsin.
Emergency Rules Protect the Deer and Elk Industry