Hunters are being warned, the CDFW says, for the first time, they have confirmation that Chronic wasting disease has reached the state.
A common disease found in deer, which occurs in over half of the US, is a fatal disease that affects the brain, spinal cord, and other tissues of deer, elk, and moose.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) received confirmation Monday that samples were collected from two deer, one in Madera County near Yosemite Lakes and the other in Inyo County, near Bishop. The deer in Madera County was found dead due to unknown causes, and the Inyo County deer was found dead after a vehicle collision.
The department believes CWD has been present in the state for some time, as the incubation period can be months to years. However, it has been proactive in monitoring California elk and deer populations for the disease since 2000 and has increased surveillance efforts, with the help of hunters, taxidermists, and meat processors, since 2018.
Officials say there appears to be no link to the disease transferring to humans through consumption, but the CDC and WHO have regulations in place to prevent the disease from entering food products.
Thus, hunters are being cautioned to watch for signs of the disease and to limit the spread. The CDFW’s “No Time to Waste” campaign aims to provide education and resources on the disease. Hunters can assist in the efforts by voluntarily participating in CDFW’s statewide CWD surveillance and sampling efforts and encouraging other hunters to participate.
You can visit the CDFW’s Wildlife Mortality Reporting page to report a sick deer or elk.
