8-Aug-18
This Joe Rogan podcast featuring Doug Duren, a hunter, farmer, and conservationist, and Bryan Richards, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, dives into the frightening world of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The episode explores the disease’s impact on deer populations, its potential threat to humans, and the challenges of managing it. Controversial topics include the role of deer farming, the effectiveness of various management strategies, and the pushback against scientific evidence.
Underlying themes revolve around the delicate balance between human intervention and natural processes, the challenges of controlling a highly contagious disease, and the importance of public awareness and scientific understanding.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD):
1. CWD’s Impact on Deer Populations: This prion disease, a member of the same family as mad cow disease, causes holes in the brain, leading to progressive neurological degeneration and death. CWD is fatal and there is no cure.
2. CWD’s Potential Threat to Humans: While CWD has not been shown to jump to humans yet, scientific research suggests it is a real possibility. The disease’s ability to survive high temperatures and persist in the environment for decades raises concerns about its potential transmission through contaminated food sources.
3. The Geographic Spread and Prevalence of CWD: The disease, initially discovered in Southeastern Wyoming, has now spread to 25 states and two Canadian provinces. The rapid spread, especially in areas with high deer density, highlights the disease’s contagious nature and potential for widespread devastation.
4. The Challenge of CWD Management: The long incubation period and the fact that infected deer can appear healthy for years make controlling CWD difficult. Existing management strategies, including hunting, culling, and carcass disposal, are often controversial and face resistance from certain segments of the population.
The Role of Deer Farming:
1. Deer Farming and CWD Transmission: The practice of raising deer in confined environments, often for the purpose of producing large antlers, has been identified as a significant contributor to the spread of CWD. The close proximity of deer in these facilities facilitates disease transmission, creating “hot spots” that can then spill over into wild populations.
2. The “Perverse” Nature of Deer Farms: The selective breeding of deer for unnatural characteristics, such as oversized antlers, raises ethical concerns about the potential impact on wild populations. The introduction of these genetically altered deer into wild environments can disrupt natural selection and potentially lead to negative ecological consequences.
3. The Lack of Regulation and Enforcement: The captive deer industry faces criticism for its lack of stringent regulations and enforcement of disease control measures. The movement of infected animals between farms, across state lines, and even internationally, has played a significant role in the disease’s spread.
4. The Challenge of Balancing Conservation and Economic Interests: Deer farming represents a significant economic activity for some, creating a conflict of interest with efforts to control CWD. Restrictions on the movement of deer or the disposal of carcasses can be met with resistance from those who view these practices as hindering their livelihood.
Strategies for CWD Control:
1. Reducing Deer Population: Reducing deer populations through targeted hunting, culling, and antler point restrictions can help slow the spread of CWD by decreasing the number of susceptible animals. However, this strategy can be controversial, particularly among hunters who resist measures that limit their opportunities.
2. Controlling Artificial Deer Congregations: Baiting and feeding, while popular with hunters, can contribute to the spread of CWD by concentrating deer in close proximity, allowing for rapid disease transmission. Measures to ban or restrict these practices are often resisted by hunters who view them as limiting their sport.
3. Carcass Disposal and Hygiene: Proper disposal of carcasses and the implementation of strict hygiene measures are essential for preventing the spread of CWD. This includes using specific disposal methods, such as clay-lined landfills, and avoiding the movement of carcasses across landscapes.
4. The Role of Education and Public Awareness: Raising public awareness about CWD, its potential impact, and the importance of responsible hunting practices is crucial. This includes educating hunters about the disease’s biology, transmission routes, and the steps they can take to minimize its spread.
The Future of CWD:
1. The Importance of Research and Innovation: Continued scientific research is vital for developing effective methods to control CWD, including vaccines and genetic resistance strategies. However, funding for such research is limited, and progress is slow.
2. The Importance of Collaboration and Policy Change: Effective CWD control requires cooperation and collaboration among state and federal agencies, hunters, farmers, and researchers. This includes revising existing policies and implementing more proactive measures to prevent the disease’s spread.
3. The Need for a Long-Term Perspective: CWD poses a significant threat to deer populations, the hunting industry, and potentially even human health. Effective management requires a long-term perspective, taking into account the complex dynamics of the disease, the ecological consequences, and the potential for future evolution of the pathogen.
4. The Importance of Individual Action: Everyone has a role to play in addressing CWD. Hunters can adopt responsible hunting practices, such as testing their deer and disposing of carcasses properly. Farmers can implement stricter biosecurity measures on their farms. And everyone can support research efforts and advocate for policy changes that address the threat posed by this disease.
Memorable Quotes:
1. “If you don’t have it, don’t get it.” – This simple yet powerful statement emphasizes the importance of preventative measures to stop the spread of CWD.
2. “We’re not just hunters, we’re conservationists.” – Doug Duren eloquently reminds listeners that responsible hunters have an obligation to protect the resources they enjoy and ensure their future viability.
3. “It’s a death sentence. It’s not like you can capture the deer and give them some sort of medication.” – Bryan Richards starkly describes the severity of CWD, emphasizing the lack of treatment options for this fatal disease.
4. “We’re rolling the dice.” – This statement captures the uncertainty surrounding CWD’s potential to cross over to humans, highlighting the risks involved in continued exposure.
5. “What would Leopold do?” – This poignant question, posed by Doug Duren, invites listeners to consider the legacy of conservation principles and their application to the CWD crisis.