There is no scientific evidence that CWD is transmissible through consumption of meat from an infected animal. CWD has not been linked to any human variant of the disease in the way that mad cow disease is associated with a variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. The prion that causes CWD accumulates only in certain parts of infected animals – the brain, eyes, spinal cord, lymph nodes, tonsils, and spleen – and, therefore, these tissues should not be eaten.

CWD attacks the brains of infected deer and elk, causing the animals to become emaciated, display abnormal behavior, lose bodily functions, and die. Signs identified in captive deer include excessive salivation, loss of appetite, progressive weight loss, excessive thirst and urination, listlessness, teeth grinding, holding the head in a lowered position, and drooping ears.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is testing thousands of animals from Illinois’s wild deer population. The Illinois Department of Agriculture monitors captive deer and elk herds in the state. Also, the Department of Agriculture obtains samples from captive deer and elk herds at slaughter plants.

The prions have never been found in muscle meat, even in infected deer. Officials are not recommending any general restrictions on consumption of deer meat. However, as a precaution, it is recommended that you do not eat deer or elk brains, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils or lymph glands (the tissue where the prions accumulate).

Because the brain is the organ affected by the disease, infected animals begin to lose bodily functions and display abnormal behavior such as staggering or standing with very poor posture. Animals may have an exaggerated wide posture, or may carry the head and ears lowered. Infected animals become very emaciated (thus "wasting" disease) and will appear in poor body condition. Infected animals will also often stand near water and will consume large amounts of water.

Call your local Department of Natural Resources or Department of Wildlife office right away and report your findings.

Although no evidence exists that CWD is a threat to humans and no evidence exists that CWD can even infect antlers, elk and deer ranchers have acted compassionately, responsibly and proactively with respect to consumers' concerns and animal health. The Canadian Cervid Council has reported that no velvet antler products from herds known to have at least one CWD case have been sold in Canada or elsewhere. Elk breeders in the U.S. have agreed that no antler from quarantined herds is to be sold.

ANSWER: Field dressing your trophy is included. We also have a local processor just a couple of miles away that will package your deer and gladly ship the venison back home for you to enjoy or they can donate it to the local "Feed the hungry program". Processing and shipping will be at your expense.

Deer "venison" cannot be tested - only brain and neural and lymph node tissues can be tested to detect the presence of CWD. Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) can test appropriate samples for CWD at owner's expense. If you wish to have your harvested animal tested, please DO NOT freeze the head. The brain sample must be taken soon after harvest.

Yes. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is no evidence that anyone has been infected with H5N1 influenza or other bird flu viruses by eating properly cooked poultry or poultry products (e.g., eggs) derived from infected birds. Cooking food thoroughly will kill bird flu virus and other infectious agents if they are present. No. Although fleas can transmit some diseases, such as bubonic plague, they are not part of the lifecycle of influenza viruses.

Accurately document the location of the animal and immediately contact the nearest TPWD Wildlife Division or Law Enforcement Division office or call TPWD headquarters in Austin toll-free at (800) 892-1112 and enter 5 for wildlife and 1 for general wildlife information. Or contact TAHC toll-free at (800) 550-8242. Do not attempt to touch, disturb, kill or remove the animal.

In the spring when there is lots of food for them in the woods, deer will stay away from Rugosas and any others that have a lot of thorns and prickles. However if they are hungry then no new rose growth is safe. Many ideas have been tried to discoura Here's advice on what NOT to do in your garden..opinions from all and sundry... Least favorite gardening trend...What's yours?? My least favorite garden trend....Evergreens!!!!!! Posted by daylilydreamer 6/7Mid-Atlantic (My Page) on Wed, Aug

Studies of families of HIV-infected people have found that HIV is not spread through sharing utensils, towels, bedding, or toilet facilities. Behaviors that increase the likelihood of contact with blood from an HIV-infected person, such as sharing a razor or toothbrush, should be avoided.

BOB: As deer continue to overrun our residential landscapes, homeowners must be more concerned about protecting their ornamental plants, especially during winter when heavier browsing occurs. There are 3 ways to protect your plantings, and we feel proper plant choices and exclusion are the two that work the best in the long run. Here are your 3 choices: Exclusion - Through the use of fencing or mesh, keep the deer away from plants.

There is no evidence that avian influenza can be transmitted through eating poultry or eggs. However, make sure poultry and eggs have been thoroughly cooked.

We maintain Fish Consumption Advisories that alert the public to areas which may produce fish that are potentially unsafe for human consumption (due to disease, water contamination, and so on). The DNR maintains an Employment Opportunities website that contains information on current vacancies throughout the department, including all bureas and office locations.

CWD was first seen in captive mule deer in 1967 at the Colorado Division of Wildlife research in Fort Collins. CWD is known to infect free-ranging deer and elk in NE Colorado and free-ranging deer in western Colorado, southern Wyoming, western Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, New Mexico and Saskatchewan. It has been diagnosed in elk in game ranches in Colorado, Nebraska, south Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The mode of transmission between deer is not completely understood. It is thought that the disease is passed from animals in close contact with one another, and perhaps from mother to offspring. The prion which causes the disease is an abnormal version of a protein that normally occurs in the animal’s cells. This protein is not easily killed by environmental factors, heat, or disinfection, so transmission from a contaminated environment may also be possible.

Brain samples are collected from hunter-harvested or other dead deer and are examined microscopically using special stains to identify the CWD prion. A research team in Colorado has recently developed the first live-animal test for CWD, based on the collection of tonsil samples for microscopic examination. This test seems to work well in deer, but not in elk.