The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation supports ongoing efforts by the North Carolina Resources Commission (NCWRC) to limit the spread and impact of chronic wasting disease, first confirmed in the Tar Heel State in 2022.
RMEF recently sent a letter to NCWRC regarding its proposed temporary rules and rule amendments that included the following comments:
- Appreciation of NCWRC’s attention to prevention goals as these efforts will be critically important to elk in western North Carolina where this disease was most recently detected
- Strong support of hunter harvest-based strategies to meet desired CWD management objectives
- Appreciation of NCWRC efforts to maintain hunting opportunities to increase sampling efficiency
- Support NCWRC actions prohibiting the placement of mineral and food attractants within Primary and Secondary Surveillance Areas which can significantly curtail CWD transmission
- Support temporary rules prohibiting transportation of potentially infectious carcasses
- Suggests NCWRC evaluate research and management needs
RMEF is a long-time proponent of CWD management and research efforts. In August, RMEF announced a $100,000 commitment to advance CWD research in the form of two studies – the development of a live CWD test with the University of Tennessee and a study to assess the prevalence of CWD among elk in the Black Hills of South Dakota. RMEF also allocated $100,000 to CWD research in 2022 for three additional studies.
RMEF is a founding member and sponsor of the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance. Since 1995, RMEF supplied more than $800,000 to state agencies and other partners for CWD surveillance, management, research and outreach.
Dating back to 1995, RMEF and its partners completed135 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in North Carolina with a combined value of more than $5.3 million. North Carolina is home to more than 3,100 RMEF members.
(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)