Can Science Breed CWD Out of Deer? Not Likely

| By Patrick Durkin
Pennsylvania’s state veterinarian thinks the best hope for controlling chronic wasting disease is to identify and selectively breed deer least susceptible to the fatal illness and slowly change the species’ gene pool until all herds — wild or captive — are CWD-free. That’s what Kevin Brightbill — a doctor of veterinary medicine and the director …

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Understanding State Agency Efforts to Control the Spread of CWD

| By Miranda Huang, Steve Demarais, and Bronson Strickland
One thing 2020 has taught us is that new diseases can change everything. The COVID-19 virus started in wildlife, spread to humans in every corner of the world, caused a massive health crisis, and impacted our workplaces, schools, restaurants and airports. Initial reactions to emerging diseases often are stressful because we lack knowledge and are …

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CWD Roundup – March 2022

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CWD Roundup is the National Deer Association’s (NDA) bi-monthly update on all things chronic wasting disease (CWD). We’ll provide the latest updates on CWD spread, research and policy from across North America. Updates are provided alphabetically by state and province. Alabama In early January, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announced a …

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Deer Hunting, East vs. West

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Here’s a comparison of harvest statistics and deer management programs across the nation. Deer hunting is America’s pastime. Deer are among the most widespread wildlife species, and they are the most sought-after game animal. Nearly eight of every 10 hunters identifies as a deer hunter, as 79% of American hunters pursue deer. There are an …

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Conversations With Deer Hunters at a CWD Sampling Station

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Last fall as deer hunters across the nation geared up for hunting season, many state agencies also prepared to collect harvest data from those successful hunters. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is one agency that has continued to monitor Chronic Wasting Disease in its state since it was first detected in free-ranging deer in …

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