A 7-year-old farmed deer in Osceola County has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, a fatal neurological disorder affecting white-tailed deer, elk, and moose. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) emphasizes the importance of early detection and response to manage the disease.
The disease is primarily spread through contact with saliva, blood, urine, or feces from an infected animal. Hunters are advised to take precautions when handling deer carcasses and submit samples for testing. Regular surveillance testing is crucial to detecting the disease early, but it requires collaboration between herd owners, hunters, and state and federal partners.
CWD was first detected in wild deer in 2015, and since then, over 109,000 deer have been tested, with 260 confirmed positives. The MDARD has partnered with herd owners, hunters, and other stakeholders to effectively manage the disease.
Hunters can avoid getting CWD by using caution when field dressing or processing deer, wearing rubber gloves, and minimizing contact with the brain and spinal tissue. Deer carcasses and parts should be disposed of through regular trash pickup or a landfill.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development provides information on chronic wasting disease at Michigan.gov/CWD.
Source: https://eu.freep.com/story/news/local/2025/03/12/white-tail-deer-chronic-waste-disease-cwd-dnr-testing/82306158007