
Deer hunting and management in Manitowoc County will change after a wild deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease. The infected deer, a 1-year-old buck, was hunted near Valders, close to Calumet and Sheboygan counties. In response, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is enforcing a three-year ban on baiting and feeding deer in Manitowoc County, starting February 1.
The confirmed case of chronic wasting disease in Manitowoc triggers a state-required ban and renews a two-year ban in Calumet County. Sheboygan County's three-year ban remains in place due to earlier cases. To raise awareness, wildlife officials are hosting a meeting on February 4 to educate the Manitowoc community about chronic wasting disease, its impacts, and local testing plans, as reported by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal illness that affects deer and elk. It's caused by prions, infectious proteins that are hard to control. Wisconsin started monitoring chronic wasting disease in 1999, and the first cases in wild white-tailed deer were found in 2002. Since then, efforts to stop the disease from spreading have been ongoing.
In Wisconsin, a three-year ban on baiting and feeding is enforced in counties where chronic wasting disease has been found. This helps control the spread of the disease and manage deer health. Shared feeding sites can increase the risk of chronic wasting disease, as infected deer can spread the disease through saliva, blood, feces, and urine. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers online resources to help people understand the current baiting and feeding rules.