During its regular meeting Nov. 8 in Raleigh, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission announced the formation of a cervid disease task force to look into issues involving private, captive deer operations and the spread of diseases like chronic wasting disease.

“The recent detection of Chronic Wasting Disease in Pennsylvania exemplifies how difficult it can be to safeguard the health of our valuable wildlife resources,” said Gordon Myers, executive director of the Commission. “The board’s charge to establish a cervid disease task force reinforces its commitment to continually examine all potential risks to wildlife health.”

The task force will be comprised of agency staff, representatives from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the captive cervid farming industry, hunting groups, taxidermists, a public health representative and other groups to examine rules pertaining to captive deer operations as well as regulations concerning the threat of importation of exotic wildlife diseases, including imports of hunter-harvested animals.

During the meeting, the Commission tabled proposed changes to captive cervid regulations that would have expanded importation of deer and licensing of deer farming operations in North Carolina.

The task force will report to the Commission in May.

— The Archery Wire