"We thank the Dane County Board for unanimously moving forward to control this tragic disease.  It makes sense to test dead game farm animals to make sure the disease does not spread on these farms," said Dane County Supervisor Brett Hulsey.  "Otherwise we can kill a lot of healthy wild deer and not control the spread of this tragic disease."

Supervisor Paul Rusk  offered a measure to extend the feeding ban to the whole county that was adopted.  Supervisors John Hendrick and Kyle Richmond spoke for the measure.  The County Board members also responded to Governor McCallum's comments in Congress on Thursday.

"Governor McCallum apparently did not read the state records I gave his staff on Tuesday that show a pattern of underfunding and neglect of the State Department of Agriculture on CWD," said Hulsey.

A May 27, 1998 memo to Bob Susen of West Bend from a DATCP veterinarian said:

 "The State of Colorado recently informed our office that a herd (Elk Echo Ranch, Stoneham, CO) from which you imported elk was identified as a source herd for an elk diagnosed with "Chronic Wasting Disease" (CWD) in Nebraska.  The state of Wisconsin currently has no rules covering CWD and is taking no action at this time.  No restrictions are being placed on your herd."

"The so called CWD 'hot spot' in southern Wisconsin may be one of many throughout Wisconsin, and the DNR needs to immediately begin testing at least one thousand deer from other parts of the state," said John Stauber, co-author of the book Mad Cow USA.  "CWD is a very invisible disease and to date the statewide testing is completely inadequate.  We can't wait until Fall deer season, we must do this now."

Chronic Wasting Disease is similar to Mad Cow disease.  Wisconsin is the first state east of the Mississippi River to report an outbreak.

For more information, contact Brett Hulsey, 110 Merrill Crest, Madison, WI  53705 or call 608-238-6070.