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Recently, I began wondering if Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was still a serious issue in our West Virginia deer population.
I contacted the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and was put in touch with Ethan Barton, who is the Wildlife Disease specialist for our state.
Here are a few questions and some very detailed answers on the subject.
Is CWD still an issue in West Virginia?
"Yes, CWD is still present in West Virginia and is well-established within several counties and in our best estimation prevalence of the disease continues to increase over time. Further, it's unlikely CWD is going away any time soon, because it's a disease unlike all others that are known to affect deer.
"Outbreak of CWD is generally characterized by a progressive increase in prevalence over time once the disease becomes established within the deer herd and transmission is possible horizontally from deer to deer by contact, environmentally via contaminated food or soil and vertically from doe to fawn.
"Most epidemiologists have described CWD as a 30-to-50-year epizootic, so it will take some time for us to know what the future holds for the deer herd. The WV DNR continues to conduct surveillance for CWD statewide and monitoring of CWD in the positive containment area counties in the state's eastern panhandle. It is important hunters and landowners comply with all regulations implemented by the DNR to contain CWD.
"While geographic spread may occur, this process is usually slow and limited unless aided by inadvisable human actions like congregating deer around feeders and bait sites, moving carcass parts and improperly disposing of carcass parts.
"We also advise against using natural urine-based deer lures in such a way that deer can encounter them. It's been scientifically demonstrated, and natural urine derived lures are no more effective at attracting deer than artificial lures and artificial lures don't come with a risk of being contaminated with infectious material."
In what counties is it most prevalent?
"Our positive counties in the state have remained the same since 2018. We first detected CWD in West Virginia in Hampshire County in 2005 and prevalence is known to be locally high in certain areas of the county.
"We are currently conducting a deer cause specific mortality study across the state using GPS-collared animals and our Hampshire County study area will be of great interest as this is the only study county where CWD is known to occur.
"We detected CWD in Hardy County in 2010 and in Morgan, Mineral and Berkeley counties in 2018. CWD is at much lower prevalence in the latter counties as compared to Hampshire.
"DNR continues to offer free testing of hunter harvested deer from the containment area counties during all deer seasons, so hunters who are concerned about their deer's CWD status can get them tested."
How big a threat is it and what precautions can be taken?
"CWD is a chronic and persistent threat to the long-term sustainability of wild deer herds. Once it becomes established, it's virtually impossible to eradicate from the herd, so it's important hunters review containment area regulations to ensure they are doing their part to fight establishment and transmission of the disease and are doing all possible to minimize the risk they are helping to spread CWD.
"Hunters who process their own meat can disinfect stainless steel tools by washing them in soap and water and soaking for 10 minutes in a 40% solution of household bleach. Tools should be rinsed thoroughly after the soak, as high concentration bleach solution is corrosive, and they should wear gloves while handling bleach or anything that has been soaked in it.
"This high concentration bleach soak has been demonstrated scientifically to inactivate the infectious capability of the CWD prion. Carcass parts can be disposed of in DNR-provided dumpsters, by bagging and disposing with household garbage, or by burying on site where scavengers and other animals can't get at the remains.
"Hunters should read the hunting regulations booklet every year to see if any rules have changed, to get up to date information about CWD in West Virginia and to learn what regulations are in place to try to slow the spread of the disease in the state."
So, it sounds like CWD is here to stay. Hopefully with the DNR's vigilance, the spread will be kept to a minimum. But as responsible hunters we must do our part by following rules and regulations to help.
Stay Safe and Stay Outdoors.