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DEP Orders Quarantine of Two Hunting
Preserves for Illegal Importation of Wild Deer
(03/108) The Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) yesterday ordered the quarantine of all
deer, elk and exotic sheep on two hunting preserves owned
by a Mr. Peter Bubalo in Hardyston Township and Sparta in
Sussex County for having imported deer from out of state
without a required permit.
The DEP permitting process ensures that
all wildlife brought into New Jersey have been certified
by veterinarians as healthy and disease free. By failing
to follow the permitting process, protective safeguards
have been circumvented. In addition, there is currently
a ban on the importation of deer and other cervids from
out of state. This ban protects New Jersey’s deer population
from infection from chronic wasting disease, which has been
rampant in a number of western states.
“The quarantine is necessary to allow
a thorough investigation of the situation and assess potential
health risks to other wildlife, particularly wild deer,”
said DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. “While there
are no apparent risks to public health, we are very concerned
that this lawbreaker may have put the health of New Jersey’s
deer and other cervids at potential risk of chronic wasting
disease.”
DEP has inspected both hunting preserves
and determined that perimeter fencing is intact. There are
approximately 70 to 110 deer in the preserve, and a number
of elk and exotic sheep. The quarantine prohibits Mr. Bubalo
from selling, or offering to sell, or permitting the hunting
of any of the wildlife on either of the preserves until
further notice.
The illegal importation was discovered
during a routine DEP inspection of the hunting preserves.
A citation was issued to Mr. Bubalo, the owner, for lack
of written records and failure to obtain appropriate permits.
The hunting preserves are located at Route
94, South Hardyston Township and at 84 Skyline Drive in
Sparta.
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