In New testing finds that CWD appears to be spreading, Minnesota Public Radio's John Enger reports:
Hunters in southeastern Minnesota have killed half a dozen chronic wasting disease infected deer this fall.
Until this hunting season, there were only 17 confirmed cases of CWD in Minnesota's wild deer herds. They were concentrated within a five-mile radius between Preston and Lanesboro.
Early testing confirmed four more cases this hunting season. And in just the last few days, two more deer tested positive in a preliminary screening.
Michelle Carstensen leads CWD management for the Minnesota DNR. She says, one of those animals was shot several miles outside the known infection area.
"We have solid evidence that this disease is persisting," she said. "And we appear to have some spread to the northwest. This disease is gaining traction."
The DNR established a CWD management zone two years ago. Now, Carstensen says, it will have to be enlarged.
"Our boundaries are going to change," she said. "We set up that first zone based on the information we had."
And she said, more cases are likely. Deer hunting season closes this weekend across much of the state, but hunters in southeastern Minnesota have nine more days of shooting.
More cases of CWD are never good news, she said, but she has been able to mine the testing data for insights into how the disease is spread. All the infected deer were strong, mature bucks, looking for mates.
The buck that was shot outside of the management zone, appeared to be traveling along the Root River.
What MPR doesn't tell listeners is the reason there's CWD to spread in that neck of the woods. From the DNR's Chronic wasting disease management page:
CWD sample submission is mandatory during the first two days of the Statewide (A) and Late Southeast (3B) seasons in select deer permit areas. . . .
Due to the increased risk in this area from a nearby CWD-positive deer farm, DNR will be conducting voluntary testing in Deer Permit Area 346 during the firearms season after mandatory sampling occurs on 3A and 3B opening weekends.
Voluntary head boxes will be located at:
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Houston, BP Gas Station, 801 MN-16, Houston
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Rushford, Pam’s Corner, 107 MN-16, Rushford
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Winona, Mills Fleet Farm, 920 E Highway 61, Winona
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Witoka Tavern, 27999 County Road 9, Winona
Let's hope that with changes in leadership on the Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee from do-nothing Dan Fabian, R-Roseau, to DFLers more willing to address the threat to Minnesota's wild deer herd, aggressive action will be mandated by the legislature.
Photo: A whitetail suffering from CWD disease.
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