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November 6, 2008
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) inspected 117 vehicles at a
checkpoint Oct. 20 and 21 to help prevent transport of chronic
wasting disease (CWD). The checkpoint was conducted at the
California Department of Food and Agriculture Yermo Border
Protection Station located near Barstow on Interstate 15.
Game wardens issued a total of 12 citations. All of the violations
included importation of illegal deer or elk parts that could
contain CWD. Violations included bringing in sport harvested elk
and deer heads, portions of the spinal column and brain and in
some cases the entire field dressed carcass.
DFG Assistant Chief Mike McBride said, “The majority of deer and
elk carcasses we inspected were in compliance with California’s
CWD law but we continue to see a need for these educational
inspection details.”
DFG game wardens inspected deer and elk meat or parts that could
contain CWD. DFG has been educating California hunters about CWD
for the past five years. States with CWD have advised out-of-state
hunters to adhere to home state regulations to help prevent
importation of the disease.
Wardens inspected 61 deer, six elk, one moose, and other fish and
wildlife. The compliance rate for inspected carcasses was 75
percent indicating that the message to protect California deer and
elk from CWD has reached out-of-state hunters. The compliance rate
for all hunters entering the inspection station was approximately
94 percent.
“We are pleased that the majority of hunters are adhering to the
law but we need 100 percent compliance because of the seriousness
of this issue. Hunters and wardens have to be vigilant to protect
California’s deer and elk herds from CWD,” said McBride.
Cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture
was excellent and one game warden from Utah assisted. Six cases
are being jointly investigated with Utah. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Agent was also present and two violations fell within federal
jurisdiction.
CWD is not known to be present in California, but transporting a deer spinal
column or brain from a state where the disease exists could
introduce it.
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