Idaho Fish and Game (IFG) confirms three additional cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer, bringing the total to six in northern Idaho’s Panhandle Region. The new cases were detected in the Unit 1 CWD-Management Zone amidst the ongoing 2024 deer-hunting season, where a significant increase in testing—936 deer, up from previous years—enabled early detection of this potentially devastating disease.
The low estimated prevalence of CWD in the area, currently under 1%, allows for proactive management strategies, including new controlled hunts to boost deer population management. These efforts underscore the importance of monitoring and mitigating the spread of this fatal neurodegenerative disease, which has no vaccine or cure, making swift action essential for both wildlife and ecosystem health.
Read full story at www.cidrap.umn.edu
