Author: Matthew Springer
Planning Unit: Forestry
Major Program: Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
Outcome: Initial Outcome
In December of 2020, UK Wildlife Extension in collaboration with Dr. John Cox in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Kentucky Office of the State Veterinarian, and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, initiated a research project aimed at understanding the potential Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) risks associated with cervid (i.e., deer and elk) Farms in the state of Kentucky. The project funded through the United States Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, is part of a national initiative to try and mitigate issues associated with the prion disease on both wild and captive deer populations. The project’s objectives are to identify characteristics of captive facilities that may lend themselves to increase risks of interactions between wild and captive animals. Results of the project will inform regulations and recommendations that will hopefully protect the wildlife resources within Kentucky, a resource valued at almost >$1 billion annually within the state, as well as the livelihood of the close to 100 captive cervid producers within the state. The project will be wrapping up fieldwork and data analysis by fall of 2022 including recommendations to the Department of Agriculture and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife for management decisions.
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