Spring Meetings will be held in six different communities to discuss CWD and encourage input from the public

INDIANA, Pa. —The National Deer Alliance (NDA) has announced public meetings at locations around Pennsylvania to discuss chronic wasting disease (CWD). NDA President and CEO Nick Pinizzotto will be joined by Matt Dunfee of Wildlife Management Institute and the CWD Alliance and other experts on the disease and talk through the latest plans on how and why to combat CWD in Pennsylvania and across the country. The events will be town-hall style meetings and will allow for dialogue and open questions from attendees.

CWD is currently the most significant threat to the future of healthy deer populations, deer hunting and the hunting industry. It is quickly becoming the biggest challenge to broad wildlife conservation that sportsmen and wildlife managers have encountered over the last century. First detected in Pennsylvania in 2012, CWD has continued to spread across the Commonwealth, including several positive deer being found in new areas this year. Data suggests that if no changes in CWD management are made, parts of Pennsylvania could eventually reach a 30 percent prevalence rate.

Getting In-Front of Communities

These meetings are one facet of many new initiatives planned for the coming year and beyond. NDA has secured resources and funding to further deliver on its goal of being the guardian for wild deer conservation and our hunting heritage, and there is no more important issue than CWD and how it impacts deer, hunters and wildlife conservation. The latest video on CWD in Pennsylvania is available here.

Hunter and non-hunter participation is imperative to stop the spread of CWD. The events in Pennsylvania will be a chance for residents in dozens of communities to learn more about the disease, plans to fight it and why their input and support is needed. The meetings will also give attendees a voice to help provide a variety of perspectives.

“NDA is poised to provide leadership on this critical issue and we intend to allocate significant resources to do so,” said Pinizzotto. “These meetings in Pennsylvania are essential to providing the latest information to all concerned with the issue—but to also get feedback and input from attendees. Our science-based approach will continue to improve and evolve as we learn more—but we are calling on hunters and non-hunters to join the fight against this horrible disease. As a Pennsylvania native and someone who shares the same concerns, I look forward to speaking with fellow hunters over the next few weeks.”

Event Times and Locations

The first two events will be held in Chambersburg and Lancaster Pennsylvania. The first event will be in the cafeteria at Chambersburg Area High School on Tuesday, April 7 at 7:00 PM. The following night a second meeting will be held at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center from at 7:00 PM as well. Two other events will follow later in April and the final two will occur in May.

More information about the NDA and their mission to protect the hunting heritage and wild deer conservation can be found at NationalDeerAlliance.com. New members are encouraged to sign up for free NDA membership and begin receiving exclusive news and benefits.

About National Deer Alliance:

NDA is a nonprofit organization with a mission to serve as the guardian for wild deer conservation and our hunting heritage. Focusing primarily on issues at the policy level, NDA is a leader in advocating for sustainable, science-based conservation of wild deer and fair-chase hunting, and is a source for credible, responsible, and timely information. NDA is an established and respected leader in the fight against chronic wasting disease. Learn more at nationaldeeralliance.com.

Media Contact:

Nick Pinizzotto, National Deer Alliance, P: 833.255.3337; nick@nationaldeeralliance.com