Illegally Held Deer Seized by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
OutdoorHub Reporters 03.16.12
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is currently investigating the case of four deer held captive on an undisclosed property in Iredell County.
Enforcement officers obtained the deer on a search warrant. As per standard procedure, they had to euthanize the deer to test for chronic wasting disease. Results should be available within several weeks according to Carolyn Rickard, public information officer for the NCWRC. No more information is available at this time.
Original press release issued by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission on March 16th, 2012:
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission on Thursday, March 15 seized and euthanized four adult white-tailed deer being held without permit or license in Iredell County.
Wildlife Law Enforcement Officers obtained a search warrant, and biologists from the Wildlife Management Division used immobilization drugs to remove the captive deer safely from the property.
According to North Carolina law, it is illegal to hold or confine deer, elk or other cervid animals in the state without a permit or license, with strict requirements necessary to safeguard the health and safety of wildlife resources, livestock and humans.
Further, since 2002, except for fawns taken to licensed rehabilitators, it has been illegal to transfer deer between facilities. These measures have been in place to prevent introduction and spread of wildlife diseases including chronic wasting disease.
CWD is a contagious and progressive disease that typically induces chronic weight loss leading to death in the infected animal. The majority of infected animals also experience behavioral changes. Currently, the only way to diagnose is through a post-mortem examination. More information on the effects of CWD and other wildlife diseases is available from the Wildlife Commission at www.ncwildlife.org, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/cwd/ and the national CWD Alliance at www.cwd-info.org.
