Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, has been constantly popping up in deer across the nation for the last five years. 2020 was no exception, multiple states across the Midwest and also southern states have been reporting cases constantly, sometimes being the first case in the county.
Now, a team of Arkansas officials, federal officials, and academic experts are joining forces to study the disease.
The purpose of the study is to better understand the impact of CWD, how the disease spreads, and how the disease reproduces. They plan to capture, tag, release, and track deer within Newton and Searcy County. These two counties are where a CWD outbreak occurred five years ago.
For the next five years, residents may notice a heavy helicopters presence and deer with collars and/or tags. If a hunter harvests one of these animals, there will be a number to call for information.
“By understanding the way CWD changes survival and reproduction, we can calculate the effects the disease is having and will have on our population dynamics,” Jenn Ballard, a state veterinarian, explained in a statement, according to the Joplin Globe.
Since the first case of CWD, back in 2016, there have been over 1,000 deer confirmed to have had the disease.
Related:
First case of CWD in elk confirmed in Wyoming
CWD has been detected in 15 counties in South Dakota
Cases of CWD are being found in deer across the country
Hunters reminded to watch for chronic wasting disease in Montana
Story Via Joplin Globe.