CWD Officially Confirmed in WA

[TriggerMike]

Keep an eye out for restrictions on transporting bones and skulls this Fall and going forward. I'd bet at a minimum there will be rules for moving bones and skulls out of the NE units and wouldn't be surprised if it is implemented for all Eastern WA animals being transported to the west side. Basically the current out of state rules but within the state now.


NEWS RELEASE

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Aug. 1, 2023
Media contact: Communications@dfw.wa.gov

First chronic wasting disease case confirmed in  
Spokane County

SPOKANE- Washington’s first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in an adult female white-tailed deer that was found dead in the Fairwood area of north Spokane.  

CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that infects members of the Cervidae ‘deer’ family and is fatal in infected deer. TSEs are caused by malformed proteins called prions. There is currently no cure for CWD, and it can only be confirmed through testing of lymph nodes or brain tissue. The lymph nodes of the deer that tested positive were submitted to the Washington Animal Disease Laboratory at Washington State University in July with a batch of other samples for testing.  

CWD has been documented in wild or captive cervids in 34 other states and four Canadian provinces. WDFW has been testing for CWD in Washington since 1995. Efforts were increased starting in 2021 in eastern Washington due to proximity to known cases in western Montana at that time. WDFW has been preparing for the possibility of finding the disease in Washington and has a Chronic Wasting Disease Management Plan that guides how the Department will move forward with responding to this confirmation and managing the spread of CWD.  

“With the spread of CWD across the country and recent detections in adjacent states and provinces, WDFW has proactively conducted surveillance in this area since 2021,” noted Eric Gardner, WDFW’s Wildlife Program Director. “We detected this case because of the surveillance program, and we are immediately reviewing our Management Plan and the circumstances of this detection. We will announce additional management actions soon.”  

CWD can spread to other deer, elk, and moose and over time can reduce cervid populations if it becomes widespread. To understand more about this outbreak, WDFW staff are preparing to collect tissue samples from deer, elk, and moose within the initial response area. Members of the public can help by reporting cervids that appear sick and by not feeding wildlife. Feeding draws animals together where disease can spread quickly.  

To date there are no confirmed cases of CWD transmission from wildlife to domestic animals or from cervids to other wild ungulate species. There is also no scientific evidence of CWD being transmitted from cervids to humans. Research conducted in 2022 and 2023 by National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists supports this. According to the NIH website “A new study of prion diseases, using a human cerebral organoid model, suggests there is a substantial species barrier preventing transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) from cervids—deer, elk and moose—to people.”  

To minimize risk, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends against consuming meat from an animal that has tested positive for CWD. Hunters who harvest elk, deer, or moose in the affected area, or anyone who salvages a road-killed animal, can take additional steps to maximize food safety.

Testing of deer, elk, and moose will be critical this upcoming hunting season in order to detect additional cases and better understand the distribution and prevalence of the disease in Washington. Hunters will be notified about changes to testing and carcass transportation regulations as those details are developed. Information on how to have harvested animals tested, and more information on CWD is on the WDFW website.   

WDFW is collaborating with landowners, land management agencies, state and local governments, tribal partners, and sportspeople and conservation groups in the affected area to respond to this disease and attempt to reduce its spread.

There are many details regarding this confirmed case of CWD that WDFW staff are working to address. The Department will hold a virtual media availability opportunity to provide information and answer questions on Monday, Aug. 5 from 12-12:30 p.m. To participate, email communications@dfw.wa.gov. A link to the Teams meeting will be provided to credentialed media via a return email. WDFW science and veterinary staff, along with Department of Health and Department of Agriculture staff, will provide a situation briefing and answer questions. The meeting will be recorded and provided to those who cannot attend. 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities. 

[PA BEN]

https://www.khq.com/news/washingtons-first-case-of-chronic-wasting-disease-confirmed-in-spokane/article_035c2bca-503c-11ef-b860-d36ae348c622.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawEY7qFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQW4yaKE87pfYJT_ng2jFBLJJjs13aW__US4iPhnnJ2USzXkcKg2aenuXg_aem_-pMQX0Ic-lYUvlVP-QqYnQ

[baldopepper]

Unfortunately kinda figured it was just a matter of time.  Personally will abide by whatever they try doing to keep it from spreading.  Don't think our herds in the NE can tolerate rhat spreading along with another blue tongue outbreak. Combine that with a bad winter or two(as the initial forecast is for the coming winter) and it could be catastrophic.   

[MackDaddy509]

Definitely not a surprise, although it certainly will change some things... I predict there will be mandatory CWD sampling in all Deer/elk/moose harvests in certain GMUs and(or) counties as this progresses. Very unfortunate to say the least.

[GWP]

Well, that’s just ducky.

[RC]

What are the odds that this leads to a bait ban, or an end to feed stations?

[Jake Dogfish]

Bummer.

[rtspring]

I blame Joe Biden

[85yota]

What are the odds that this leads to a bait ban, or an end to feed stations?

Thanks for bringing this up. It didn't cross my mind until now, and unfortunately I'm sure we will see some massive reactions, whether justified or not time will tell. I'm hoping some people here who are more qualified than me will speak on this topic to help educate members and put positive pressure on the game department however possible. I immediately was reminded of ted nugent speaking to Michigan counsel about this issue. Very worth the listen and if anyone has opinions on his take would love to hear it if we're now in the land of no return.

 

[nwwanderer]

Watch this closely, a recent talk with WDFW folks mentioned CWD could end consumptive use in WA.  What ever tool it takes, others have mentioned recently that hunting was no longer needed for management

[hunter399]

Well that sucks.

[kodiak06]

I blame Joe Biden

ROLL TIDE!

[kodiak06]

What are the odds that this leads to a bait ban, or an end to feed stations?

I bet they discuss it...

[dwils233]

What are the odds that this leads to a bait ban, or an end to feed stations?

I think that's a likelihood and not necessarily a bad thing, the devil though will be in the details. Statewide ban? overkill. Single GMU with a positive result- too little. the happy medium would be something in the middle- probably like a 1/3 or 1/4 of the state until more positive results come in.

I'd also imagine mandatory submission will become likely along a similar regional effort until we know if it's broken containment, as well as meat-care/boning out requirements.

Honestly- the Commission has never needed Kim Thorburn more than it will now- Her background was in public health and epidemiology (I think) she'd be the right person to have at the policymaking table to slow the spread with effective and intentional measures

[dwils233]

Watch this closely, a recent talk with WDFW folks mentioned CWD could end consumptive use in WA.  What ever tool it takes, others have mentioned recently that hunting was no longer needed for management

Haven't watch the video yet, but at least for some time hunters and hunting will be critical. Since you can only test post-mortem, they'll want tissue samples to track dispersal. Plenty of states have also tried to cull out herds when it presents in limited populations, new hotspots, etc- an effort reliant on hunters.