Michigan Legislators Issue Recommendation on CWD Baiting Ban- Ludington Daily News

Committee chairs call for lifting the peninsula wide ban

Brian Mulherin – Daily News Staff Writer

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

LANSING ? Three Michigan legislators who chair key committees have sponsored similar resolutions in the Michigan House and Senate urging the director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to lift the ban on baiting ordered in response to Chronic Wasting Disease. The resolutions also recommend the Natural Resources Commission hold public hearing on the general issue of baiting for future hunting seasons.

Chair of the Senate Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation Committee, State Senator James Barcia (D-Bay City) indicated that all legislators he has spoken with about the baiting ban believe the ban goes too far, too soon. “It does not make sense to ban baiting in the entire Lower Peninsula this year due to the finding of CWD in one deer at one enclosed facility,” Barcia said. “We must remain vigilant without over-reacting in a manner that will do more harm than good.”

Following the discovery of a three-year old white tail deer found at a ranch in Kent County, all the other deer at the same ranch have tested negative for CWD. In addition, an epidemiological study performed by state veterinarians has not turned up CWD in any other captive or free-ranging Michigan deer. State officials do not know how the deer at the Kent County facility became infected with CWD Full Story

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