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Environmental News
Mathew Holding Eagle III

Southeast corner of Minnesota remains chronic wasting disease hotspot 

a gloved hand holds test tubes
University of Minnesota researchers prepare samples of deer tissue to be tested for chronic wasting disease.
Courtesy of Carolyn Bernhardt

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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports early chronic wasting disease testing results from the firearm deer hunting season opener show positive cases remain relatively low across the state, but numbers continue to stay elevated in the southeast corner. 

DNR wildlife health supervisor Erik Hildebrand said one reason the southeast portion is so problematic is because of its geography.  

“We are the closest to some of our neighbors that have some high prevalence rates of CWD,” he said. “Also in Minnesota, that’s the first place that we’ve detected the disease in our wild deer herd.” 

According to the DNR that was back in 2010, near the portion of Pine Island in Olmstead County, located within 2 miles of an elk farm that experienced an outbreak the prior year.    

“Since then, we’ve been seeing more infection and persisting infection and slight radial spread. So, how it got to this area? We don’t know. We will never know,” Hildebrand said. “But doing what we can do now to help prevent further spread, to really try to keep prevalence rates as low as we can keep it, that’s really what we're trying to do now.” 

Hildebrand said if infection rates continue to increase there, the area could be reclassified into an endemic infection area. That would in turn change how the DNR manages that area. Currently all the state’s positive and suspected cases involve CWD management zones where the disease has previously been detected. 

A deer that shows visible signs of chronic wasting disease
This image from 2000, taken by the Wyoming Game and Fish and Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance, shows a deer with visible symptoms of chronic wasting disease.
Terry Kreeger | Wyoming Game and Fish and Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance via USGS

Adult bucks are three times more likely to be infected with CWD than other deer in the wild. 

As of now, Hildebrand said preliminary compliance rates from samples collected by hunters in management zones is “very good,” at about 85 percent. 

“I encourage hunters to just keep tabs on CWD, where it’s at in the state, how it affects hunting and maybe some traditions,” he said. “But also, the wildlife watchers out there, be aware if you have any recreational deer feeding or attractant bans in your county, please help out and abide by those.”  

Hildebrand said hunters taking part in any of the remaining peripheral deer hunting seasons can voluntarily submit deer samples for testing. To get current CWD related updates visit the DNR’s website.