The headlines seem to pile up as quickly as do cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD). Below are just a few taken over a two-week period from 17 different states:
- Oct 30: Idaho hunters asked to stop at check stations
- Oct. 29: Chronic wasting disease detected in Pulaski County wild deer (Kentucky)
- Oct. 29: Oregon hunters asked to stop at CWD check stations
- Oct. 29: Missouri announces new CWD changes
- Oct. 28: North Dakota encourages hunters to have deer tested for CWD
- Oct. 28: Arkansas offers 100+ locations for CWD testing
- Oct. 28: Pennsylvania expands take in unit 4C to manage CWD
- Oct. 28: Florida steps up CWD monitoring
- Oct. 27: CWD detected in new Wyoming hunt area
- Oct. 27: Montana hunters urged to test game for CWD
- Oct. 24: Nebraska hunters can request free CWD testing kit
- Oct. 24: CWD spreads across Wisconsin
- Oct. 23: Utah requires CWD testing in Ogden unit
- Oct. 22: The growing concern of CWD (Washington)
- Oct. 22: Indiana offers free CWD testing
- Oct. 21: New York asks public to help prevent CWD
- Oct. 14: CWD detected in Prentiss County (Mississippi)
What is CWD?
According to the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance, an organization founded by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and several partners in 2002, CWD is an always-fatal nervous system disease with no known cure found in cervids like deer, elk and moose. Confirmed in 36 states and five Canadian provinces, it can be transmitted through animal-to-animal contact as well as through contact with saliva, feces, carcass parts of infected animals and through the soil. Most recently, researchers discovered it may also be transmitted from mother to offspring during pregnancy.
CWD poses serious problems for wildlife managers and has significant implications for free-ranging deer and elk. While researchers are still determining some of the impacts, studies show that CWD could destabilize long-term population dynamics and reduce populations.
Why CWD matters to hunters
With hunting seasons underway, it is critical that hunters have a basic understanding about the disease and check with their respective state wildlife agency about the rules and regulations surrounding it. Though rules differ from state to state, the most common regulation prohibits importing whole carcasses taken from CWD areas including a ban on importing any brain or spinal column tissue.
Wildlife managers and biologists use and rely on hunters to try to prevent CWD from spreading into new areas and to help manage its spread where it exists. Testing is required in some areas, again depending on state regulations.
What RMEF is doing about it
As a member of the National CWD Alliance, RMEF successfully advocated for specific legislation and continual funding in the federal budget for research and response. Since 1999, it also allocated more than $700,000 to state wildlife agencies and other partners to bolster CWD surveillance, management, research and educational outreach. Since 2019, RMEF worked with CWD Applied Research Program partners to leverage more than half a million dollars to fund CWD studies. RMEF also attends professional meetings and conferences in support of CWD efforts. It also serves in an advisory role to assist the Montana Department of Transportation with CWD testing techniques and procedures.
(Photo credit: Wyoming Game and Fish Department)