2022 Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 67 BY SENATORS WOMACK, BARROW, BERNARD, BOUDREAUX, CATHEY, HENRY, HEWITT, JACKSON, MILLIGAN, ROBERT MILLS, MORRIS, PEACOCK, REESE, SMITH, STINE, TALBOT AND TARVER AND REPRESENTATIVES ADAMS, CARRIER, ROBBY CARTER, COUSSAN, FIRMENT, FISHER, FONTENOT, GADBERRY, TRAVIS JOHNSON, CHARLES OWEN, RISER, SCHAMERHORN, THOMPSON, WHEAT, WHITE AND ZERINGUE A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION To urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to formulate plans to contain and eradicate chronic wasting disease in certain areas of the state. WHEREAS, chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a neurodegenerative disease found in most deer species and is always fatal having no known treatment; and WHEREAS, the presence of CWD has been detected in Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi; and WHEREAS, based on a sample taken in January from an adult whitetail buck killed on private land in the northeast area of Tensas Parish that indicated the presence of CWD, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (DW&F) declared a CWD Control Area comprised of the parishes of Tensas, Franklin, and Madison; and WHEREAS, many local businesses provide the food for deer feeders, bait to be placed in the woods, and mineral and salt licks; and WHEREAS, restrictions and bans on feeding deer, mineral and salt licks, and placing bait in the control area have a detrimental economic impact on these businesses; and WHEREAS, actions of enforcement and maintaining intensive surveillance in the control area when based on a single instance of CWD should be balanced against the alternative and whether the measures are viable under the circumstances without evidence of further infestation; and WHEREAS, the implementation of any response should be coordinated with surrounding states to reduce the unintended consequences of encouraging the migration of healthy deer populations into areas where CWD is prevalent; and Page 1 of 2 SCR NO. 67 ENROLLED WHEREAS, it is incumbent on the DW&F to develop protocols, procedures, and implement a response that is prudent and tailored to the appearance of an isolated instance verses an outbreak. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby request that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries develop protocols, procedures, and appropriate responses when a single isolated instance of CWD is detected verses multiple instances of CWD and the adverse impacts of mandatory enforcement actions. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Page 2 of 2