OUTDOOR BRIEFS

STILL UNDETECTED

NDOW checking for wasting disease

With fall big game hunting seasons under way, the Nevada Department of Wildlife is collecting tissue samples from harvested deer and elk to test for chronic wasting disease. Since the mid-1980s, when it was first found in wild deer and elk herds, the disease has been confirmed in several of the lower 48 states as well as two Canadian provinces. The closest of those locations to Nevada is neighboring Utah. It remains undetected in the Silver State, and the NDOW hopes to keep it that way.

Chronic wasting disease is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. It is characterized by spongy deterioration of the brains in infected animals. Common outward symptoms of the disease are emaciation, abnormal behavior and loss of bodily functions, usually ending in death.

In the meantime, hunters are urged to not shoot, handle or consume any animal that is acting abnormal or appears to be sick. Anyone who does harvest or see an animal that appears sick is urged to call NDOW. Hunters should wear latex or rubber gloves when field dressing deer or elk. It is also recommended that hunters bone out the meat and avoid sawing through bone or cutting through the brain or spinal cord. Thoroughly washing hands and knives after field dressing is complete is highly recommended.

Wwith Utah being the closest chronic wasting disease-infected state, NDOW personnel are concentrating their research efforts on animals harvested in the eastern portion of the state. Las Vegas is the sample collection focal point because a significant portion of the animals southern Nevada hunters harvest originate in the eastern counties. According to Peregrine Wolff, wildlife veterinarian for NDOW, the agency "collects 90 percent of the samples from the Las Vegas area alone each year."

NDOW aims to collect more than 200 samples in the Las Vegas area and is seeking help from volunteers. Sampling will take place at Mull's Meats. Anyone who is interested in helping with sample collection should call Chris Pietrafeso, (702) 486-5127, ext. 3850.

EDUCATION PROGRAM

Flying Wild curriculum lands in Nevada

In August, a group of environmental educators attended the first Flying Wild training in Nevada. The training was in Reno and drew about 25 participants. Among their ranks were representatives from the Nevada Department of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lahontan Audubon Society, Sierra Nevada Journeys and other conservation organizations.

Flying Wild is an environmental education program that is part of the Project WILD series and teaches the conservation of birds through many activities, including service-learning projects for children.

Some of Flying Wild learning activities include the creation of educational displays or stage performances that celebrate birds.

The Flying Wild program also uses bird watching as a way to encourage students' interest in nature and the outdoors. Emphasis is placed on reaching out to students in urban centers who might not otherwise have exposure to any environmental education.

Piloting the training was the Flying Wild coordinator for Nevada, Robin Powell, director of bird conservation in Nevada for Audubon. Although the intention of the Flying Wild program is to encourage the development of local bird festivals, for now the program in Nevada will tie into the existing festivals in the state -- Spring Wings in Fallon and the Wings and Wildlife Festival in Laughlin.

For more information on Flying Wild, contact the Audubon Society in Sparks at (775) 247-2798.