Copper bullet for chronic wasting disease?

[dgibson]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>According to some researchers, a copper dietary deficiency makes
deer and elk more susceptible to CWD. Improve their copper
intake, and it might just slow down the spread of the disease.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> http://espn.go.com/outdoors/general/columns/swan_james/1498383.html

MY OPINION: Lots of 1_pointer biology talk in there!

This sounds kind of like the situation with deer contraceptives. Long on idea, short on practicality.

I can't see any air-drop salt block measures being very effective.

 

[FLIPPER]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by dgibson:
[QB]

According to some researchers, a copper dietary deficiency makes
deer and elk more susceptible to CWD. Improve their copper
intake, and it might just slow down the spread of the disease.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Hahahahaha....I shoot Barnes X-bullets in my .270

I don't have a problem with helping them with their "copper" intake

 

[Tom]

Thanks for a great link. I liked James Swann's book, In Defense of Hunting. Its pretty historical and a little philosophical. They did a bisquit drop in south Texas to clear up rabies in coyotes a few years back and it worked. The wildlife ranchers and elk breeders can give copper supplement for sure where it is know to be low.

 

[1_pointer]

The places were I'm most worried about CWD are winter ranges where feeding takes place and historical whitetail deer yards. I think either of these would be an easy situation to give some supplement.

FYI, there's a genetic ecologist here at USU looking for a Master's student to look at the link between genetics and CWD if anyone's interested!

 

[ELKCHSR]

Tyler,,
I would be, I try and save a lot of the actual articles of the causes and effects..
This could be interesting enough to put in my folder of stuff.. I have some stuff on the copper deficiancy, except there is more to it than just the copper. If any one is interested on some of the stuff I have found, just let me know and I will post what I have found!!!

 

[dgibson]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>The places were I'm most worried about CWD are winter ranges where feeding takes place and historical whitetail deer yards. I think either of these would be an easy situation to give some supplement.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Even so, do you think that enough coverage would be gotten to make it effective? Given that it only slows the inevitable, would it even be worth it? Tom's right in that the ranchers could certainly do so.

Didn't know about the biscuit drop for coyotes; very interesting. I'm gonna look that up.

 

[1_pointer]

Since there's no 'cure' as far as I know, slowing it down would be better than nothing. Certainly better than trying to shoot all the deer in an area and start over. I know I would try to slow cancer down with chemo/radiation (I know it's not a great analogy).