A new study from the UW could save the DNR thousands of dollars in the disposal of dead deer.
It's not unusual for deer carcasses to be disposed of in landfills. But ever since CWD was discovered in south central Wisconsin other more expensive methods were used.
CWD positive deer were either incinerated or chemically digested at a cost twelve to twenty-four times the cost of landfill disposal.
The DNR's Greg Matthews says the new UW study indicates it's unlikely CWD will seep into surface water.
It says the contaminated prions, or proteins, will bond tightly to minerals in the landfill soil and will not move.
Matthews says the money saved can go back into protecting wildlife or future CWD management.
Right now only the Dane County landfill is involved since it's in the heart of a CWD eradication zone. The county board still has to approve the change.