2015 Delaware Envirothon Training

Transcription

1 2015 Delaware Envirothon Training JOE ROGERSON DEER & FURBEARER BIOLOGIST DELAWARE DIVISION OF FISH & WILDLIFE WE BRING YOU DELAWARE S GREAT OUTDOORS THROUGH SCIENCE AND SERVICE

2 White-tailed Deer - Survival Animals need three things to survive Food Cover/Shelter Water If an animal can t find these needs, it will search until it does. Without these things, it will not survive.

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6 Factors that Effect Deer Populations 1.Hunting 2. Winter weather (snow depth) 3. Predators 4. Vehicles 5. Rainfall

7 Adaptations for Survival Sense of smell Hearing Eye Sight Antlers Gregarious nature Fawning tricks Quick for short periods of time Cunning

8 White-tailed Deer Hunting First deer season was in 1954 Over 333,000 deer harvest been harvested Harvest now is typically between 13,500 and 14,200 deer, annually During the 2013/14 season, deer were harvested per square mile of deer habitat. That is more deer harvested per square mile than some states have alive.

9 White-tailed Deer Hunting Deer Management Options Traditional Quality Trophy The Division s approach is a blend between traditional and quality deer management.

10 White-tailed Deer Hunting How can we age deer before after after they are harvested? Tooth wear and replacement Cementum annuli Body characteristics

11 White-tailed Deer Hunting After deer are harvested they can be aged by examining the teeth

12 Deer Diseases Questions

13 Deer Diseases Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease EHD What is EHD? How is it spread? Deer population concerns Public health concerns

14 Deer Diseases Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease EHD What is EHD? EHD is an acute, infectious, often fatal, viral disease contracted by some wild ruminants. This malady, characterized by extensive hemorrhages, is common throughout the Southeastern U.S. but has been documented throughout the East Coast and much of the Midwest.

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16 Deer Diseases Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease EHD How is it spread? Spread by a biting midge (Culicoides spp.) Sand gnats, sand flies, no-see-ums Midges are commonly found near water Upon biting a deer, infected midges transmit a virus to the animal Naïve midges become infected after biting a deer that has EHD

17 Deer Diseases Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease EHD Deer Population Concerns It depends who you ask Overall (state of Delaware) the impacts are usually minimal Locally (individual farm) the impacts can be substantial Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study To date, repeated HD outbreaks have not represented a limiting factor to deer population growth.

18 Deer Diseases Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease EHD Public Health Concerns Does not infect humans No harm from being bitten by a midge Safe to consume venison Little concern for livestock

19 What is CWD? CWD is a Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) Caused by prions (abnormal, proteinaceous, infectious particles) Body is unable to breakdown these prions. Therefore, they collect in nervous tissue, creating small holes, and ultimately causing death.

20 Who Can Contract CWD? NOT Humans Members of the family Cervidae (Deer) White-tailed Deer Mule Deer Elk Moose

21 CWD Symptoms Droopy Ears Emaciated Slumped Head Lack of Coordination Excessive Drinking Excessive Urination

22 How is it Spread? Not exactly sure, but the prions are very resilient. Both Direct (animal to animal) and Indirect (contaminated environment) transmission are possible.

23 Distribution of CWD

24 Delaware Surveillance Began testing in ,500+ samples collected 600 samples/year (200/county) Sample Collection Sites Deer Processors Managed Hunts Opportunistic Samples Targeted Surveillance

25 Rabies Fatal virus that affects the central nervous system Effects mammals Most common rabies carriers in the U.S. are raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes In DE, most common species tested are bats. Spread through saliva. Typically by a bite No live test to determine if an animal has the disease Found throughout Delaware

26 Thank You Any Questions? Joe Rogerson (302)