Why It Matters: With the deer hunting season in full swing across the Great Plains, states like Iowa, Nebraska, and North Dakota are urging deer hunters to have their deer tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Occurring in deer, elk, caribou, and moose, CWD is an always fatal, degenerative neurological disease. Because the disease has a long incubation period, deer infected with CWD may not present any visible signs of the disease for up to two years after they are infected, making testing a critical means of surveillance as states seek to slow the spread of CWD throughout the nation.
Highlights:
- Chronic Wasting Disease is a progressive, fatal, degenerative neurological disease occurring in farmed and free-ranging deer, elk, caribou, and moose.
- States like Iowa, Nebraska, and North Dakota, among many others, are urging hunters to have their harvested deer tested for CWD.
- These states are offering hunters the chance to bring their harvested deer into game and fish offices or special deer check points to have their animal tested for CWD.
With the deer hunting season in full swing across the Great Plains, state fish and game agencies are encouraging hunters to have their harvested deer tested for CWD. States like Iowa, Nebraska, and North Dakota are urging hunters who harvest deer from certain hunting units to bring their deer to game and fish offices or check points to have it tested.
State game and fish agencies are encouraging hunters to have their deer tested for CWD because despite lack of visible symptoms, deer may be infected at the time of harvest and testing is an important conservation measure. CWD is a slow, progressive disease with a long incubation period. Deer that are infected with CWD may not show any signs or symptoms of the disease for up to two years after they become infected, making testing of hunter harvested deer one of the most effective surveillance tools for wildlife managers. As CWD progresses within the deer, they will typically show changes in behavior and appearance.
Last year, The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) added eight counties to their CWD-positive list, bringing the total number of counties with CWD positive deer to 23. The testing of harvested deer in Iowa is available in each county by contacting the local DNR wildlife staff. In the Cornhusker State, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) encourages hunters to bring their harvested deer to an in-person check station during their firearm deer season. There are six different deer management units that the NGPC is urging hunters to have deer tested, they are looking to collect 230 to 300 samples from these management zones. Heading up to the Peace Garden State, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGF) is continuing their Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program by sampling deer from CWD units. The NDGF is encouraging hunters to drop off their harvest deer at special collection locations or bring them to a Game and Fish office. NDGF also offers a self-sampling kit that hunters can use, instead of dropping their deer off.
