News

CWD-positive deer found on Wisconsin preserve

For the first time in five years, a white-tailed deer on a hunting preserve has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD).  State Veterinarian Dr. Paul McGraw announced the latest case was found in Marathon County. The animal was a 5-year-old male and was one of about 370 deer in the 351-acre preserve; it was killed on November 4th. The disease was confirmed by the National Vet Lab in Ames, Iowa.

The DATCP Animal Health Division’s investigation will look at the animal’s history and trace movements of deer onto and off the property to determine whether other herds may have been exposed to the CWD test-positive deer.

McGraw quarantined the preserve and three other registered farms owned by the same entity immediately.  That stops movement of live deer from the property, except to slaughter or to their hunting preserves. The business will be allowed to conduct hunts on the quarantined preserves, because properly handled dead animals leaving the premises do not pose a disease risk.

This is the first new CWD test-positive deer on a Wisconsin farm since October 2008.