The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has expanded the Chronic Wasting Disease Control Area in northeast central Louisiana. This action was taken during their meeting on Thursday, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
A positive case of chronic wasting disease has been found in Catahoula Parish, leading to the creation of a 25-mile control area that includes parts of Caldwell, Richland, La Salle, and Catahoula parishes, with additional restrictions in Franklin and Concordia parishes, effective May 1. The declaration prohibits deer baiting, supplemental feeding, and the transport of deer carcasses outside the area, except for parts allowed for taxidermy. Hunters will face restrictions, and the area is defined by physical landmarks like roads and waterways. The discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease in a wild deer outside Tensas Parish brings the total number of cases statewide to 40, as reported by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The Declaration of Emergency addresses Chronic Wasting Disease in white-tailed deer and lasts for 180 days, or until a proposed Notice of Intent replaces it. The Notice of Intent, still open for public comment, will create a 15-mile radius where supplemental feeding and baiting are banned. The new guidelines may take effect as late as August 2025. Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal disease in deer with no known cure or vaccine, causing symptoms such as weight loss and incoordination. While it is not known to affect humans, health authorities advise against eating meat from infected deer. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is offering free Chronic Wasting Disease testing to hunters in areas with known cases.
