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Rep. Albert introduces plan to protect Michigan deer from disease
RELEASE|August 29, 2019

State Rep. Thomas Albert has introduced a plan to protect Michigan deer from chronic wasting disease.

“Chronic wasting disease has decimated deer, elk and moose populations in other states,” said Albert, of Lowell. “We must take the right precautions to prevent the spread of this disease in Michigan and protect our deer population.”

Chronic wasting disease was first identified in Michigan in May 2015. As of August 2019, 122 free-ranging deer have tested positive.

The disease can be transmitted through animal-to-animal contact or through a contaminated environment. Studies have shown that CWD prions exist in the saliva, urine, blood and feces of infected animals. Additionally, a study from the University of Wisconsin suggests that the CWD prion can remain indefinitely in certain types of soil, and binding to soil dramatically increases the infectiousness of CWD prions.

Albert said current regulations restrict hunters from transporting the carcasses of deer killed in chronic wasting disease zones to other areas of the state. The legislation he introduced today will restrict the transportation of live deer in and out of areas where the lethal disease has been detected. It will also prevent live deer from being imported into Michigan from any region where a cervid has tested positive for chronic wasting disease in the last 10 years.

“This is a common-sense reform,” Albert said. “It doesn’t matter whether a deer is dead or alive. If it lived in an area where chronic wasting disease is present, it’s too risky to allow it anywhere near our healthy deer populations.”

Albert said maintaining a healthy deer herd is important, as deer hunting generates more than $2.3 billion each year for Michigan’s economy. The state has more than 650,000 deer hunters who have harvested an average of 430,000 deer annually during the past decade, and deer hunting contributes more than 10 million days of recreation every year.

House Bill 4833 has been referred to the House Agriculture Committee for consideration.

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