Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer and Elk
Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is a progressive neurological disease that has been observed in deer and elk in Colorado, Nebraska, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Very little is known about the disease. It damages portions of the animal’s brain and is 100 percent fatal. There is no known treatment or vaccine for CWD. The disease is not present in Arkansas.
Infected animals may not show any symptoms of the disease. In some stages of the disease, however, infected animals begin to lose control of bodily functions and display abnormal behavior such as staggering, standing with very poor posture and losing fear of humans. Infected animals lose weight rapidly (thus wasting disease) and often stand in or near water and drink excessively. They may also exhibit drooling or excessive salivation. Some of these symptoms are not unique to CWD and are found in other diseases affecting deer and elk.
It is not known exactly how CWD is spread. Experiments have shown the disease can be spread both directly (animal-to-animal contact) and indirectly (through soil or other surfaces). It is thought that the most common mode of transmission from an infected animal is through saliva, feces and possibly other body secretions. There is evidence that people have spread the disease by moving infected animals.
What can hunters do?
- If you kill an extremely skinny deer or one that is obviously sick, contact the AGFC, (800) 482-9262.
- Don’t place urine-based deer or elk lures on the ground or vegetation where deer can reach them. Placing them out of reach of deer still allows air circulation to disperse the scent but prevents possible indirect transmission.
- When field-dressing game, wear rubber gloves and don’t cut through the brain or spinal cord (backbone).
- Always wash hands thoroughly after dressing and processing wild game.
- If you hunt deer, elk or other antlered animals in a state known to have CWD, or hunt within a high-fence enclosure, you must comply with Arkansas’s cervid carcass importation requirements.
- From these areas you can bring back to Arkansas:
- Deboned meat
- Meat with no portion of spinal column or head attached.
- Clean antlers
- Clean skull plates
- Clean teeth
- Finished taxidermy products
- Hides and tanned products
>Q&A on Chronic Wasting Disease for Hunters
This fact sheet is courtesy of the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance. More information can be viewed on their Web site http://www.cwd-info.org.