Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
COMMITTEE ON
JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Date:
03/02/2005
ATTENDANCE
Time:
07:37 AM
to
08:35 AM
Brophy
Entz
Place:
HCR 0112
Gallegos
Groff
This Meeting was called to order by
Grossman
Senator
Isgar
Harvey
Hillman
This Report was prepared by
Hodge
Timothy Taylor
Hoppe
McFadyen
McKinley
Penry
Rose
Solano
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed:
Action Taken:
Chronic Wasting Disease
Briefing
07:37 AM -- Briefing on Chronic Wasting Disease
Bruce McCloskey, Director of the Division of Wildlife (DOW), introduced himself and spoke briefly about DOW efforts concerning chronic wasting disease (CWD). A DOW handout on CWD was distributed to the committee (Attachment A).
07:40 AM
Dr. Michael Miller, senior veterinarian at DOW, provided an overview of CWD in Colorado. He said that as of 2004, 16 of the 55 deer populations and 9 of the 46 elk populations in the state have had at least one incidence of CWD during the last 20 years, and noted that the north-central part of the state comprises the area where most of the reported CWD infections have occurred for both deer and elk. He stated that DOW has learned that there is a higher prevalence of CWD in male and older animals, and said that the CWD agent can persist in the natural environment for up to 2 years. He also mentioned that the landscape probably plays a role in CWD epidemic dynamics. Responding to a question from Senator Isgar, Dr. Miller said that prevalence rates have remained fairly stable over time in the CWD endemic areas in the state.
07:49 AM
Representative Hoppe asked how much DOW spends each year on CWD. Mr. McCloskey said $3 million, which mostly comes from hunting and fishing license revenues.
07:52 AM
Senator Taylor asked how long CWD roadkill samples are viable for testing. Dr. Miller said up to a couple of weeks.
07:55 AM
Representative Curry asked how the landscape is involved in transmission of CWD, as was noted by Dr. Miller. Dr. Miller responded that DOW has observed that animals near urban areas tend to have higher incidence rates, and that because the CWD agent can persist in the natural environment, certain soil types could possibly help the agent survive. He said, however, that DOW is still trying to determine exactly how the landscape plays a role in CWD transmission. Representative Brophy asked how long it takes for a CWD test to be confirmed when submitted to DOW. Cathy Green, Disease Management Coordinator with DOW, said that a CWD test can come back in as quick as 3 days when it turns out negative, but that it can take up to 3 to 4 weeks if the test is positive, since a positive test requires 2 tests to confirm CWD.
07:59 AM
Representative Penry asked about DOW's relationship with the National Park Service (NPS) regarding CWD testing at Rocky Mountain National Park. Dr. Miller responded that there is a joint DOW/NPS CWD project in the Rocky Mountain National Park/Estes Park area that has been going on for the last 2 years, which he described as a fully cooperative endeavor where about half the deer population in the area are captured each year and tested.
08:04 AM
Sheldon Jones, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, testified on the department's efforts concerning CWD in elk. Keith Roher, Assistant State Veterinarian with the department, provided some numbers from the department's elk CWD surveillance and testing efforts, noting 4 confirmed positives in 2004, and 1 confirmed positive so far this year. He said that alternative livestock facilities with elk that have tested positive have been closed, allowing no exports of their product.
08:11 AM
Gary Shoun with the State Board of Stock Inspection Commissioners spoke about the board's process for licensing alternative livestock facilities, and its role in helping to control CWD.
08:14 AM
Representative Brophy inquired why a CWD test for elk submitted to the department tends to take longer than a CWD test for deer that is submitted to DOW. Mr. Roher responded, and noted efforts by the department to have CWD samples for tests sent directly to the Colorado State University lab that performs the tests to speed up the process.
08:16 AM
Barry Dyer, Research Director of the Cervid Research and Recovery Institute, spoke about the institute's CWD research efforts. He said the institute has a revolving herd of 300 head of elk that it studies, and noted that all the elk at the institute have been DNA profiled. He noted research on animals that are genetically-resistant to CWD, and the institute's efforts in this area. Mr. Dyer responded to questions from Representative Penry on the specifics of the institute's CWD genetic research.
08:35 AM
The joint meeting was adjourned.