The U.S. Forest Service has temporarily banned wildlife feeding on the Allegheny National Forest in response to the discovery of chronic wasting disease in a deer in Warren County.

According to the Forest Service, the restriction will be in place for one year and only applies to activities on national forest lands.

“The order prohibits feeding wildlife or laying or placing any food, fruit, hay, grain, chemical, salt, or other minerals on the Allegheny National Forest,” a statement from the ANF explains.

Several exceptions are included in the order, such as a bird feeder placed in a developed campground; entities or individuals who have a permit authorizing such action; and local, state and federal rescue group or firefighters in the performance of an official duty.

A confirmed case of chronic wasting disease in a deer was found on a preserve in Pine Grove Township earlier this year.

The disease is considered highly contagious and develops slowly in the lymph nodes, spinal tissue and brains of deer and similar animals such as reindeer and elk. It is always fatal and there is no cure and no vaccine.

In response, the Game Commission created a disease management area — a 211-square-mile block that includes a 3-mile buffer around the area where the positive deer was found. There will be more intensive sampling conducted in that area.

The PGC is also selling 412 coupons for hunters in that area and the coupons specifically are intended to help the PGC obtain additional samples from the area.

A sampling station is in the works for the PennDOT facility in Starbrick as well as eight head-drop sites where hunters will be able to leave the heads of harvested deer for testing.

The ANF asserts that the “feeding of deer can amplify the transmission of diseases like CWD and result in long-term habitat destruction, increased vehicle collisions, habituation to humans, alteration of normal behavioral patterns, and pose risks to other wildlife.”

While the restriction is for one year, they indicate that additional restrictions may be considered if needed; similar short or long-term restrictions may be considered in the future.

“Prior to signing this closure order, this proposal was discussed with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which provided a letter of support,” their statement said. “In total, forest staff reached out to several hundred potentially interested individuals, organizations, and agencies for comment on the proposal. Eleven responses were received, ten of which expressed support.”