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Wisconsin DNR Confirms First CWD Case in Clark County
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the first case of chronic wasting disease detected in a wild deer in Clark County, marking a new development for hunters in central Wisconsin.
According to the DNR, the positive case came from a hunter-harvested adult doe. The deer was not taken within 10 miles of any county line, a key detail that limits the regulatory impact of the detection.
Clark County was already operating under a two-year baiting and feeding ban prior to this positive test. Under Wisconsin law, that ban is now extended for an additional three years and will reset again if future CWD detections occur in the county. Because the deer was harvested more than 10 miles from neighboring counties, no additional baiting or feeding bans are being triggered elsewhere at this time.
State law requires a three-year baiting and feeding ban in counties where CWD is detected, along with a two-year ban in adjoining counties if a positive case is found within 10 miles of a county line. Those restrictions are designed to reduce the risk of disease transmission by discouraging deer from congregating at shared food sources.
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological illness that affects members of the deer family, including white-tailed deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. It is caused by abnormal proteins known as prions and belongs to a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. There is no known cure, and infected animals eventually die.
Wisconsin began monitoring its wild white-tailed deer herd for CWD in 1999, with the first positive cases confirmed in 2002. Since then, surveillance and testing have expanded statewide, relying heavily on samples submitted by hunters during the fall seasons.
The DNR continues to emphasize that baiting and feeding can increase the risk of spreading CWD by concentrating deer in small areas. The disease can spread through direct deer-to-deer contact or indirectly through prions left behind in saliva, blood, urine, or feces.
Hunters in Clark County should remain aware of the extended baiting and feeding restrictions and follow all carcass handling and disposal guidelines. State officials encourage hunters to stay informed through DNR resources as surveillance efforts continue and additional test results are evaluated.
More information about CWD can be found on the DNR’s CWD webpage.
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