Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer/Pennsylvania Industrial Heritage Exhibit

 What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, April 11, 2018:

Chronic Wasting Disease is a contagious, always fatal disease that affects deer, elk and moose. It is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), which is the same type of disease as Mad Cow Disease. The disease causes brain cells to die, resulting in microscopic holes in the brain tissue and, ultimately death of the animal. 

CWD spread throughout western states and the Pennsylvania Game Commission had been concerned about it for years.  In 2012, a deer on a deer farm in Adams County was the first to be diagnosed with the disease in Pennsylvania.  Since then, about a hundred free-ranging deer have been found to have contracted Chronic Wasting Disease.

In February, a deer on a deer farm in northern Lancaster County was confirmed to be infected. As a result, the farm and land within a 10-mile radius was ordered quarantined. The quarantine includes portions of Lancaster, Berks and Lebanon counties

CWD is threatening the $1.6 billion hunting industry and deer farms in Pennsylvania. 

Appearing on Wednesday’s Smart Talk are two deer farmers who are with the Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association — Glenn Dice Jr. and Jarrid Barry.

Also, the State Museum of Pennsylvania is presenting a series of programs on the state’s historic landscapes using the hand-drawn, bird’s-eye views of Pennsylvania cities and towns by Thaddeus Mortimer “T.M.” Fowler.

The artist’s work is featured in the exhibit Every Thing of Interest Shown: T.M. Fowler’s Pennsylvania Bird’s-Eye Views, 1885-1905, currently on display at the museum.

When combined with other resources, these views can offer clues about how townscapes, residential and commercial buildings, and regional industries have changed over time.

Joining us is Senior Curator Curt Miner and Museum Director Beth Hager to discuss the series of programs featuring Fowler’s work.