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, to date, the Department of Conservation has tested 24,405 deer. All tests were negative. Between 2002 and 2004, with the help of hunters, the Department of Conservation tested more than 22,000 deer from all 114 counties in the state. With the conclusion of the sampling program in 2004, our surveillance efforts shifted to sampling sick deer reported by the public.
In 2007, we began a three-year program of CWD testing in which one-third of the state was sampled annually. In 2007 and 2008, more than 1,200 samples were collected in each of the northern and central thirds of the state, respectively. In 2009, we expect to collect a similar number of samples in the southern zone. Targeted testing of sick deer continues, and your help is needed to ensure sick deer are reported and sampled.
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.
