Help Monitor the Deer Herd for Chronic Wasting Disease
Please tell us if you harvest or see a sickly deer. Citizen reporting is part of an ongoing, statewide CWD-monitoring program. Although CWD has been detected in other Midwestern states, Missouri’s deer herd has remained CWD-free. We know this because hunters helped us test over 22,000 deer from across the state between 2002 and 2004. All tests were negative.
With the conclusion of the sampling program in 2004, we shifted our surveillance efforts to sampling sick deer reported by the public, a strategy that has been successful in other states.
Next Generation of Conservation
Talk About Plants and Animals
Missouri is home to a rich array of animals and plants. Find out what they’re up to, what you can do to conserve them and more. Comments welcome!
If you encounter a deer that appears sick, please call an MDC regional office. Tell the staff person exactly where and when you saw it.
While CWD has not been found in Missouri, it is a concern in the management of white-tailed deer at the national level. Research continues to show no links to human or livestock diseases. The Missouri State CWD Task Force, a coordinated effort between MDC and the Missouri Department of Agriculture, and a variety of other governmental and conservation organizations, continues to monitor CWD issues and develop recommended actions as needed.
