Park News: The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking to amend the approved 2013 Chronic Wasting Disease Detection/Assessment Plan, Shenandoah National Park to include response actions necessary to address chronic wasting disease (CWD). If this proposed plan is approved and two or more positive CWD cases are detected within 5 miles of the park boundary, or if detected inside the park, the park will implement a disease management/response plan which includes the lethal removal of deer in specific developed areas of the park where deer densities are higher than in surrounding areas increasing the risk of CWD spread. This could happen relatively soon (1-3 years) or many years from now. Superintendent Jim Northup said, “We regret very much that we have to propose this action, but we must act when the park’s deer population is being threatened by an invasive, non-native disease. We have a legal obligation to try to protect the ecological integrity of the park. Just like with invasive plants and insects, chronic wasting disease is a wildlife disease that does not occur naturally in this part of the country and must be managed to preserve the long-term viability of the deer population within the park. If we decide to proceed with this action, we will conduct our operations in the most sensitive and humane way possible and make every effort to see that the safe deer meat is donated to those in need. Our long term goal is to make sure that visitors to Shenandoah National Park will have the opportunity to view and appreciate beautiful, healthy deer for generations to come.” The public comment period opens today. The Park will seek public input through a series of public meetings and through online or written comments. PLEASE NOTE: Comments made on social media will not be documented as part of the formal public response. If you want to provide input, please do one of the following: Post online at parkplanning.nps.gov/shencwd Send to: Superintendent, Shenandoah National Park, Attn: CWD Response Amendment/EA, 3655 US Highway, 211 East, Luray, VA 22835 Attend one of the public meetings: November 17 (Crozet Public Library, 2020 Library Avenue, Crozet, VA), November 18 (Warren Community Center, 538 Villa Avenue, Front Royal, VA), and November 20 (Elkton Community Center, 20593 Blue and Gold Dr, Elkton, VA). All meetings start at 7:00 PM. To read the full press release go here: nps.gov/shen/parknews/newsreleases.htm To learn more about this issue go here: nps.gov/shen/naturescience/cwd.htm To comment go here: parkplanning.nps.gov/shencwd
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:38:28 +0000
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