IMPORTANT |
| Hunters can check the results of their harvest online
using the CWD Survery Results form |
Introduction
Chronic wasting
disease (CWD), a progressive, fatal illness of deer and elk, has
not
been found in Washington's wildlife, despite on-going testing of
hundreds
of animals. However, the disease has gained national attention after
being discovered in at least 14 other states (Montana, Wyoming, Colorado,
New Mexico, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin,
Illinois,
Minnesota, Utah, New York, and West Virginia) and the Canadian provinces
of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
There
is no scientific evidence at this time to suggest that CWD can be
transmitted from deer or elk to humans. However, much remains unknown
about the way the disease is spread and hunters may wish to take
basic precautions in dressing and handling deer and elk.
This webpage
was created as part of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's
overall effort to educate the public about chronic wasting disease.
Besides basic facts about the disease, this site includes information
on continued disease testing of Washington wild deer and elk and
links to other federal
and state websites on chronic wasting disease.
Click Map to
Enlarge
Hunter
Precautions
Chronic wasting disease has not been found in Washington, and there
currently is no scientific evidence of CWD being transmitted from
deer or elk to humans. However, hunters who wish to take additional
precautions may choose to avoid consuming the brain,
spinal cord, eyes, spleen, pancreas, or lymph nodes of harvested
deer and elk, since the CWD prion accumulates in these tissues.
As always, WDFW advises hunters to avoid harvesting any animal
that appears sick or is behaving strangely, to wear rubber gloves
while field dressing game, and to thoroughly wash hands and equipment
after processing carcasses.
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