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CWD prevalence up in state deer herd, DNR reports

White-tailed deer testing positive for chronic wasting disease went up significantly last year in two deer populations in the "core area" of south central Wisconsin, according to a report released Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The estimate of CWD prevalence in adult bucks 2 1/2 years old or older went from 10 percent in 2007 to 15.5 percent in 2008, while the prevalence in yearling bucks went from 3 percent in 2007 to 6 percent in 2008.

The core area includes western Dane County and eastern Iowa County.

CWD is a fatal nervous system disease that is known to naturally infect white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose and elk. It is from a family of diseases that includes mad cow disease and scrapie.

It was first discovered in Wisconsin in 2002. Since then, 1,172 free-ranging deer have tested positive for CWD in Wisconsin out of almost 152,000 deer tested.

CWD project leader Davin Lopez said in an article from the DNR that after seven years, there are no easy answers to managing the disease.

"We continue to believe the stakes are high, it's a statewide issue and we take seriously our responsibility to manage the disease," Lopez said.

"We need to minimize the extent and spread of the disease in our treasured deer herd," Lopez said. "Science tells us the only practical tool to do that is to reduce deer density and therefore deer to deer contact."

Infection rates in the Wisconsin herd showed substantial variability from one year to the next, but there was evidence of a trend pointing to a 4 percent increase every year.

Trends in the mountain states of Colorado and Wyoming show higher prevalence rates, because researchers said CWD has infected the deer herd for several decades.

High prevalence rates of 20-40 percent have been found in those two states. Studies suggest CWD was limiting deer numbers.