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A wild deer in Stillwater has been confirmed positive for chronic wasting disease, the Minnesota Department of Natural Re
The deer, an adult female, was reported by a local resident in Stillwater who observed it for several days and noted it was unafraid of people and appeared emaciated, DNR officials said
When the deer died on July 16, the DNR retrieved the deer’s body and had it tested, where CWD was detected
“This discovery near Stillwater is unfortunate and highlights the importance of the public’s awareness of and ability to report sick deer, as well as our protocol to have these deer tested for CWD,” said Michelle Carstensen, the agency’s Wildlife Health Program supervisor. “We thank the landowner who reported this animal because public participation is necessary to keep our deer population healthy.”
The deer was located about 30 miles from the closest confirmed cases of the fatal neurological disease in both Minnesota and western Wisconsin, officials said
The Minnesota DNR is working on what the surveillance response will be to the new detection near Stillwater
The agency also is moving to a four-year rotational surveillance plan around the state. Under the new plan, the state has been divided into four quadrants
Each year, hunters in one quadrant will be required to have all adult deer they harvest during firearms opening weekend tested for CWD; sampling this year will be focused on the southwest quadrant of the state, officials said
