Below is a news release from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation advocates annually for support of this effort.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded more than $11 million this year to States, Tribal governments, research institutions and universities to control and prevent chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild and farmed cervids (e.g., deer, elk). To efficiently and quickly advance this work, APHIS noncompetitively funded the most promising projects to develop new tools or methods, support local CWD control programs and pay pending indemnity requests.

Funding for farmed cervid activities totaled $5,290,775.

  • $2,548,282 for 18 projects across 17 States supporting prevention and response efforts, including predictive genetics testing, herd plans, Herd Certification Program management and indemnity
  • $1,200,000 for four research and development projects focused on predictive genetics and live animal testing using blood samples
  • $1,542,493 for direct indemnity payments and depopulation of infected and exposed animals

Funding for wild cervid activities totaled $5,905,577.

  • $3,312,960 to 18 State wildlife agencies for surveillance and management activities
  • $493,641 to nine Federally recognized Tribal governments for surveillance and management
  • $1,998,976 to five universities for research and development of ante-mortem diagnostics and management practices
  • $100,000 to Wildlife Services for depopulating positive herds, removing infected animals from the landscape, and assisting State wildlife departments with CWD management

Funding allocations for farmed cervid projects were largely based on the State’s CWD status, number of herds participating in the CWD Herd Certification Program, and number of positive herds participating in genetic based herd plans. To be eligible for wild cervid funding, States and Tribes had to have applied for competitive funding at least once during the previous two funding cycles.

APHIS coordinated with interested States and Tribes to allocate funding accordingly. Lists of funded projects are posted on the APHIS website.

CWD is a contagious, degenerative disease that affects cervids such as deer, elk, and moose. It causes brain cells to die and ultimately leads to the affected animal’s death. The incubation period can be lengthy. Infected animals may appear healthy until the disease is in its final stages and can spread the disease to other animals during this “silent” phase. Because CWD is widespread and there are a limited number of effective tools, controlling and managing the disease is especially challenging.

These awards will enable State departments of agriculture, State animal health agencies, State wildlife or natural resources departments, Tribal governments and organizations, and research institutions and universities to expand CWD research, management and response activities.

Previous APHIS funding has supported the development of predictive genetic tools for breeding for less susceptible deer, removal of infected farmed cervid herds, enhanced diagnostics, expanded surveillance in wild cervid populations, hunter and public education, and carcass disposal options to reduce disease spread. This year’s investment builds on that foundation to support critical research and management needs.

(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)