Wildlife officials have confirmed a third case of chronic wasting disease in deer this year, and the agency is asking hunters to get deer tested. | Unsplash
Wildlife officials have confirmed a third case of chronic wasting disease in deer this year, and the agency is asking hunters to get deer tested. | Unsplash
Deer hunters should be aware that chronic wasting disease has been identified in three animals this year, with the latest being a hunter-harvested one in Surrey County.
With the cases presenting this year, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is asking hunters to help the state get an idea of how widespread the disease is.
"Now more than ever we need the cooperation of sports men and women,” Brad Howard, NCWRC’s chief, said in a recent WTVD report. “We need to test as many hunter-harvested deer as possible to figure out the distribution of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in our state and how many deer are infected.”
The latest example was taken approximately 10 miles from the two previous positive detections in Yadkin County, according to the NCWRC, the regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of state fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws.
Although another detection is disappointing, it's an encouraging sign that the agency's response plan is working, Howard said, and a lot of people are helping to put that plan into effect.
CWD is transmitted through infected saliva, urine and feces of live deer, or the movement of deer carcasses and carcass parts. It is important that precautions are taken when transporting or disposing of deer carcasses, since infected deer might appear healthy.
"It is also essential that we all understand how important it is to safely dispose of deer carcasses,” Howard said. “Deer hunters must be vigilant and mindful of carcass disposal. The last thing we want to do is inadvertently move it to a new location in the state. We continue to stress — don’t give it a ride."
Disposal methods include burying the deer remains where you harvested the animal when possible, double bagging the deer remains for disposal at the closest landfill, or leaving the deer remains on the ground where the animal was harvested.
Since all three identified cases have surfaced in the same area, it’s possible the disease is localized. The current Primary and Secondary Surveillance Areas will remain unchanged, Howard said. Additionally, because of the tight geographic location for the cases, no additional regulatory changes are planned at this time.
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