New Rules Follow Rare Deer Disease Finding in Livingston County

WHO:

Spectrum News - Brendan Quirion, head of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Big Game Unit section, said officials will first determine the outbreak’s extent and prevalence before deciding on additional management actions.

Spectrum News - Jim Farquhar, chief of the DEC Bureau of Wildlife, said the agency was very concerned about CWD’s potential presence in New York and that early detection could create a chance to manage or eliminate it.

Spectrum News - Hunter Alan Paul said he was surprised CWD had been detected because he did not know the DEC was testing for it. He said he was not worried about venison and was more concerned about tick bites and Lyme disease.

Spectrum News - Joe Payne, owner and deer butcher at Payne’s Processing, said his business would turn away deer from the containment area.

WHEC.com - Brendan Quirion, identified as the DEC’s Big Game Unit leader, said officials were restricting movement of deer and deer products from the area.

WHEC.com - The DEC said there has never been a confirmed human case of CWD.

WHAT:

Spectrum News - A wild deer in Livingston County tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), the first detection in a wild deer in New York since 2005.

WHEC.com - The DEC is increasing deer testing after a Livingston County deer tested positive; the disease is highly contagious and deadly among deer, elk, and moose.

Spectrum News - Hunters who harvest deer in the containment area must submit tissue samples for DEC testing. Hunters whose deer test positive will be contacted and asked to surrender the venison, and will receive a replacement carcass tag.

WHEC.com - Hunters in the six designated towns must test deer samples and should not eat venison until test results are available.

Spectrum News - The DEC says there are no known cases of people contracting CWD; the CDC advises against eating venison from an infected deer.

Spectrum News - New York’s deer hunting industry is worth more than $1 billion.

Spectrum News - The DEC detected CWD in a captive deer herd in Herkimer County in 2024.

Spectrum News - The DEC may use local deer population reductions to keep prevalence low and limit disease spread.

WHERE:

Spectrum News - The containment area covers Conesus, Groveland, North Dansville, Sparta, Springwater, and West Sparta in Livingston County.

Spectrum News - Listed sample-collection locations include processors and taxidermists in Wayland and Dansville, including Beckers Meat Processing, Piggy Pete’s, Wester’s Deer Processing, Earner’s Deer Processing, Robin Coombs, Ridge Runner Taxidermy, Finger Lakes Taxidermy, and Brian Pragle’s Custom Woodworking & Skull Mounts.

WHEC.com - Samples may be submitted at DEC check stations, cooperating processors or taxidermists, or head-collection bins.

WHEN:

Spectrum News - The containment area is to remain in place for at least five years.

WHEC.com - The containment area will remain in place for five years.

WHY:

WHEC.com - CWD is caused by misfolded proteins that damage a deer’s brain and nervous system and poses a serious threat to deer populations.

Spectrum News - The DEC prohibits moving deer out of the containment area to enable testing of as many deer as possible.

HOW:

WHEC.com - Restrictions include moving deer from captive facilities in the area, rehabilitating deer from the area, and transporting deer urine and other deer products out of it.

Spectrum News - The DEC may expand or add containment areas depending on where further positive samples are found. Hunters outside the area can report sick or dying deer to the DEC or pay Cornell University to test a harvested deer.

WHEC.com - A virtual CWD webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m.

(UPDATED November 13, 2026 01:10 UTC)

A Livingston County wild deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease, New York’s first since 2005. Officials are expanding testing and restricting deer and deer-product movement across six towns. Hunters there must submit samples and avoid eating venison until results come back.