Chronic Wasting Disease Diagnosis of the disease began in 1977. Scientists suspected that CWD was caused by a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). TSEs are diseases of the nervous system that have distinctive lesions in the brain. Scientists do not know what the transmissible agent is that causes the transformation from cellular PrP (protein prion) to the resistant PrP.

Symptoms lack of coordination separation from other animals in a herd excess salivation depression unusual behavior weight loss difficulty swallowing increased thirst and urination

Deer Species With CWD Whitetail Deer, Odocoileus virginianus Elk, Cervus canadensis Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus Moose, Alces alces Black-tail Deer, Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis

Ways We Can Help Hunters can help by sending in the heads of a harvested animal that is in an effected area. By NOT feeding wild animals. By reporting all suspicious cases.