Hunters in Utah are being nudged once again, this time to roll down to local check stations with their deer in tow for routine chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing. This fatal disease hasn't spared the state's cervid populations since its discovery near Vernal in 2002, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is maintaining its vigilance with this year's monitoring efforts.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources announced its schedule and setup for check stations where hunters can bring in deer for free CWD testing, particularly targeting specific hunting units on a five-year rotation. The condition continues to lurk in the state's wildlife, affecting deer, elk, and moose with symptoms including severe weight loss, listlessness, and coordination problems, culminating in death. Because it's caused by misfolded proteins called prions shed through biological materials, indirect transmission is also a concern, hence the diligence in testing.
The disease, while rare, has marked a significant footprint, with 356 deer and 10 elk testing positive in Utah up to this September. The DWR has cast a wide net, tapping various locations across the state for these free testing services from Cedar City in the south to Snowville out in the north.
"We take the presence of CWD in Utah seriously and will continue to do extensive monitoring to stay on top of the disease and its prevalence in the state," stated Ginger Stout, the DWR State Wildlife Veterinarian, as per Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, highlighting the importance of hunter participation in these initiatives, given that 78% have never had their deer tested for CWD. Though there's no evidence of human infection from consuming CWD-positive meat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against it.
