Despite efforts to control the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, its presence continues to grow in Wisconsin. A report from the Department of Natural Resources shows that out of 7,100 deer from CWD management zones that were tested last year by the Department of Natural Resources, 175 were positive for the disease.
CWD project leader Davin Lopez says the findings aren’t a big surprise. He says there have been 15 to 17-percent population declines in the CWD management zone, but that’s still not sufficient enough to halt the spread of the disease.
Adult male deer continue to show the highest rates of CWD, with about 12-percent in portions of western Dane and eastern Iowa counties infected. Females and yearlings did show an increase, while CWD was also found among deer on the borders of the management zone.
Lopez says they’re largely focused on trying to contain CWD right now. However, he believes new tools for fighting the disease are coming soon with work continuing on a potential vaccine or more effective ways to remove the prions that spread the disease from the soil.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:06)