SLS 22RS-3540 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 67
BY SENATOR WOMACK
WILDLIFE/FISHERIES DEPT. Requests the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries to
formulate plans to prevent and limit the impact of certain wildlife diseases.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to formulate plans to contain
3 and eradicate chronic wasting disease in certain areas of the state.
4 WHEREAS, chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a neurodegenerative disease found
5 in most deer species and is always fatal having no known treatment; and
6 WHEREAS, the presence of CWD has been detected in Texas, Arkansas, and
7 Mississippi; and
8 WHEREAS, based on a sample taken in January from an adult whitetail buck killed
9 on private land in the northeast area of Tensas Parish that indicated the presence of CWD,
10 the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (DW&F) declared a CWD Control Area comprised
11 of the parishes of Tensas, Franklin, and Madison; and
12 WHEREAS, many local businesses provide the food for deer feeders, bait to be
13 placed in the woods, and mineral and salt licks; and
14 WHEREAS, restrictions and bans on feeding deer, mineral and salt licks, and placing
15 bait in the control area have a detrimental economic impact on these businesses; and
16 WHEREAS, actions of enforcement and maintaining intensive surveillance in the
17 control area when based on a single instance of CWD should be balanced against the
18 alternative and whether the measures are viable under the circumstances without evidence
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SLS 22RS-3540 ORIGINAL
1 of further infestation; and
2 WHEREAS, the implementation of any response should be coordinated with
3 surrounding states to reduce the unintended consequences of encouraging the migration of
4 healthy deer populations into areas where CWD is prevalent; and
5 WHEREAS, it is incumbent on the DW&F to develop protocols, procedures, and
6 implement a response that is prudent and tailored to the appearance of an isolated instance
7 verses an outbreak.
8 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
9 request that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries develop protocols, procedures, and
10 appropriate responses when a single isolated instance of CWD is detected verses multiple
11 instances of CWD and the adverse impacts of mandatory enforcement actions.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
13 secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Thomas L. Tyler.
DIGEST
SCR 67 Original 2022 Regular Session Womack
Requests the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries develop protocols, procedures, and
appropriate responses when a single isolated instance of chronic wasting disease (CWD) is
detected verses an outbreak of CWD and the adverse impacts of mandatory enforcement
actions.
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