It sounds like something you might see in a horror movie. A monster attacks helpless defenseless people who have no way of escape as it mutilates and destroys everyone in its path.
There is a disease spreading across the country among cervids including whitetailed deer, elk, moose that is strikingly similar to the fictitious monster from the movies. When an animal contracts the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), they die; there is no cure.
The Ruston Rotary Club last week heard ULM Professor, Dr. Kim Marie Tolston, share grim details of what happens once deer become affected by CWD. The disease has been documented in 22 states and as of January, 2022, Louisiana was added to that list. The malady so far has only been found in Tensas Parish but neighboring parishes are likely to learn the disease has spread to their locales.
Just exactly what is Chronic Wasting Disease? Dr. Tolston explained it and why it is impossible to cure.
“It is caused by prions that cause the brain of affected animals to form holes much like a sponge. These prions are proteins, not living organisms which means you can’t kill them,” she said.
“How does a dees get these proteins? It has to be ingested and spreads from one animal to another from saliva, urine, feces or other body fluids. If an infected deer feeds at a feeder and for instance drops a grain of corn or two and another deer eats it, it becomes infected.”
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has published regulations concerning deer that are taken in the control area, which includes all of Tensas Parish along with portions of Madison, Concordia, Franklin and E. Carroll Parishes. These controls include prohibiting of baiting, placement of bait or hunting over bait. In addition, only meat that has been cut, boned out and wrapped with no part of the spinal column or head may be taken from the control area.
Eddie Barnes, Ruston businessman, has a hunting lease in Tensas Parish and he shares his impression of what he has observed since CWD entered Tensas.
“There have been 22 deer that have tested positive in Tensas, our club has shot 16 of them,” said Barnes. “The only way to stop it is to reduce the number of deer. We have some 800 deer on our club and we have been instructed by LDWF to get the number down to 400. We hate to have to do it but it seems the only way we can reduce the spread is to take out lots of deer.
“After we shoot them, they are placed in coolers and LDWF comes and removes the heads and tests them for CWD. The deer that are cleared as not having it are quartered with bones removed, meat packaged and are taken to the Deer Factory in Dubach which processes the meat and donates it to Hunters for the Hungry.”
According to Dr. Tolston, the prions can remain active for at least ten years. “There was a pen where infected elk that had tested positive for CWD and were all shot and removed. Ten years later, more elk were put in the pen and they all contracted CWD because the prion was still active on the ground where they were penned,” she said.
“The disease affects not only mature deer but even fawns have been found with CWD. The only way to help control it is to reduce the number of deer in affected area because if one gets it, likely as not the entire herd will,” she noted.
The monster in the movies that wipes out victims is bad, but it’s just a movie. Chronic Wasting Disease is worse because it’s real. The entire deer hunting industry in Louisiana could eventually be subject to restrictions if CWD continues to spread.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Bream fishing for chinquapins and bluegills has been good around shallow bedding areas. Big oversized plastic worms and crank baits are picking up some good sized bass in deeper water around the secondary points. Crappie are best fishing jigs or shiners around submerged tops. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BLACK BAYOU –Bream are bedded and biting crickets and worms around the trees fished over the grass. Crappie are around the trees and are fair on shiners and jigs. Bass are fair on spinners. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Some big bass are still being caught flipping soft plastics around brush. Some big crappie are being caught on the flats on shiners and jigs. Bream are on the beds and hitting worms and crickets. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is still high. Bream are beginning to bed in the backwaters. No report on bass and crappie. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass have been good with some over 7 caught on buzz baits, jerk baits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on the flats and are hitting shiners and jigs fished 8 feet deep in 12-14 foot water. Bream are on the beds and taking crickets or worms. Catfishing is good fishing cold worms off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – There have been some good reports of stripers starting to school and hitting shad imitation lures. Bass fishing is best fishing around the boat docks and piers with spinners, crank baits and soft plastics. Crappie have moved deep and are best around submerged brush on shiners and jigs. Bream should still be around shallow bedding areas and hitting worms and crickets. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfishing is good and the bream are on the beds. No report on crappie or bass. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is rising again and the road is under water to the landing. No fishing reports this week. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.