INDIANA, Pa. – (Ammoland.Com)— The National Deer Alliance (NDA) gave oral testimony to the United States House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on Tuesday, June 25. President and CEO Nick Pinizzotto provided compelling evidence as to why chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an issue that must be met with a cohesive, urgent response from hunters, conservation groups, legislators and the general public. Video of the complete testimony can be viewed here. Joining Pinizzotto on the witness panel was NDA board member Dr. Krysten Schuler, who is a wildlife disease ecologist with the Cornell University Animal Health Laboratory.
CWD is an unprecedented threat to healthy deer herds. Unlike other known or visible diseases though, CWD does not kill large amounts of deer at the same time, and affected deer often don’t show signs or symptoms until death is near. These factors, in addition to other communication and non-scientific-based reasoning from vocal groups and individuals, can leave hunters and members of the public confused, or without a sense of urgency of what’s at stake.
Threat to an American Tradition and Valuable Conservation Dollars
CWD is always fatal. There are no survivors. For the most part, it’s not a process that can be observed by the masses. CWD is now known to exist in 26 states, and resources and funding are needed immediately to combat this issue.
“It is unrealistic to think that CWD is going away any time soon,” said Pinizzotto in his testimony. “We need to come to grips with the idea that this is a ‘forever’ issue, and that there is no end in sight. The sphere of influence around deer, which includes scientists, wildlife managers, hunters, and even the general public, must learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable as we face the challenges that CWD presents.”
Deer, which are pursued by 70% of all hunters, are the financial driver for the management of all wildlife, including threatened species. State wildlife agencies depend on license sales and funds derived through the Pittman-Robertson Act to conduct their work.
“Today’s hearing was a great opportunity for experts on several aspects of this issue to get important information about the disease on the record,” said Pinizzotto. “We appreciate the subcommittee’s interest in this critical issue, and look forward to continuing to build on the positive momentum generated today.”
Taking Action
Founded in 2014, the National Deer Alliance’s mission is to serve as the guardian of wild deer conservation and the hunting heritage. The NDA’s work on behalf of deer, deer hunters, and the hunting industry is policy-focused. While all deer issues are important, CWD is paramount.Just last year the NDA revised the strategic plan and identified CWD as the top priority, and estimates that nearly 90% of their work is related to the issue.
Additional information about NDA and its work on CWD is available on the organization’s website at nationaldeeralliance.com.
About National Deer Alliance:
The NDA is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization with a mission to serve as the guardian for wild deer conservation and our hunting heritage. Focusing primarily on issues at the policy level, NDA is a leader in advocating for sustainable, science-based conservation of wild deer and fair-chase hunting, and is a source for credible, responsible, and timely information. Founding members include: Archery Trade Association, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Bass Pro Shops, Mule Deer Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Quality Deer Management Association, Vista Outdoors and Whitetails Unlimited. Learn more at nationaldeeralliance.com