fbpx

CWD Confirmed in Free Ranging Michigan Whitetail

By Hunting NetworkMay 26, 2015
Ingham County is located in South Central Michigan .  Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

Ingham County is located in South Central Michigan . Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

In a report released by the Michigan DNR earlier today the state has confirmed that a free-range whitetail deer has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).  The infected animal was spotted last month exhibiting signs of illness and was later euthanized by two officers from the Meridian Township Police Department.  Upon collection by state DNR biologists samples were sent to the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health in Lansing, Michigan where they tested positive for CWD.  A second test was later performed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa where the positive results were confirmed.

While there is no evidence that CWD can be transferred to humans or that is poses any significant threat to humans the extent of the disease’s impact on whitetail populations is still relatively unknown.  Although the disease is always fatal once contracted it often takes months, or even years, for an infected animal to begin showing symptoms of illness.

Michigan DNR director Keith Craig states that although this is the first case discovered in a free ranging whitetail that the State of Michigan is fully prepared to begin dealing with this situation.  Craig states “We are working with other wildlife experts at the local, regional, state and federal level, using every available resource, to determine the extent of this disease, respond appropriately to limit further transmission, and ultimately eradicate the disease in Michigan if possible.”

To Michigan’s credit they have a well prepared and thought-out plan in place to deal with CWD as they must have known it was only a matter of time before it popped up in the Great Lakes State.  The primary actions to be taken under this CWD response plan are as follows:

  1. Complete a population survey in the area where the deer was found (Meridian Township, which is near Lansing, MI)
  2. Establish a Core CWD Area consisting of Alaiedon, Delhi, Lansing, Meridian, Wheatfield and Williamstown townships in Ingham County; Bath and DeWitt townships in Clinton County; and Woodhull Township in Shiawassee County. Unlimited antlerless deer hunting licenses will be available. Mandatory checking of deer will be required in this area during hunting seasons and restrictions will apply to the movement of carcasses and parts of deer taken in this area.
  3. Create a CWD Management Zone consisting of Clinton, Ingham and Shiawassee counties.
  4. Implement a deer and elk feeding and baiting ban, which will include the Core CWD Area and the larger three-county CWD Management Zone.
  5. Prohibit the possession or salvage of deer killed by collision with a motor vehicle within the Core CWD Area. Also, residents are asked to call in the locations of road-killed deer within this area so DNR staff can pick up for testing. Research shows CWD-infected deer are more likely to be hit by vehicles because of their illness.

Although this is the first positive CWD finding in the state’s free-ranging deer population, it is important to note that from Jan. 1, 1998, through Dec. 31, 2014, tens of thousands of free-ranging Michigan deer were tested and no evidence was found of chronic wasting disease in this population. In fact, that testing included 34,207 deer, 1,607 elk and 70 moose – a large sample of animals with no positive finding. In privately owned deer populations, approximately 21,000 samples have to date been tested for CWD. All of those have been negative as well, with the exception of the 2008 Kent County case. MDARD conducts ongoing surveillance of Michigan’s 365 registered, privately owned cervid facilities.

While the Michigan DNR has a clear cut plan in place to help curb the spread of this deadly disease it remains to be seen how effective it will be.  As one scientist said “We know two things about CWD.  It spreads, and it gets worse.”

Fore more information visit the Michigan DNR website.

Post a Comment
Login To Account

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *