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Deer Health - Disease
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CWD:
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was first detected in Wisconsin in 2002. Since then sampling has been conducted every year in various places throughout the state.
Total # Sampled Deer Graph
The top graph on this page represents the number of deer that have been sampled for CWD per year as well as the number of CWD positive results.
Sick Deer Tested for CWD Graph
Landowners and citizens are encouraged to contact the department when a deer showing clinical signs is seen. These reports are recorded. In low CWD prevalence counties, these deer are dispatched and sampled for CWD, if possible. Not all sick deer in higher prevalence counties are tested for CWD.
More information about CWD in Wisconsin can be found on the department website.
For additional Information….
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Non-CWD:
In September and October, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) was detected in white-tailed deer in two counties. In Buffalo County in western Wisconsin, approximately 43 deer were reported to the Department that were suspected or confirmed to have died from the virus. In Oconto County in northeastern Wisconsin, approximately 34 deer were reported to the Department that were suspected or confirmed to have died from the virus.
EHD History
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is an acute, infectious, viral disease spread by biting insects (especially midges) that affects white-tailed deer and some other hoofed animals. In white-tailed deer the severity of the disease depends upon the deer’s previous exposure to the virus and strain of the virus. At this time, it does not appear that EHD is endemic (always found) in Wisconsin which means that when the virus does appear here, it is more likely to be fatal to deer.
The disease was diagnosed for the first time in Wisconsin deer in the fall of 2002 when approximately 14 deer were found suddenly dead in Iowa County. In the fall of 2012, deer found dead in eight southern Wisconsin counties tested positive for EHD. In the fall of 2019, EHD was detected in deer found dead in southwestern Wisconsin.
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Non-CWD:
In September and October, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) was detected in white-tailed deer in two counties. In Buffalo County in western Wisconsin, approximately 43 deer were reported to the Department that were suspected or confirmed to have died from the virus. In Oconto County in northeastern Wisconsin, approximately 34 deer were reported to the Department that were suspected or confirmed to have died from the virus.
EHD History
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is an acute, infectious, viral disease spread by biting insects (especially midges) that affects white-tailed deer and some other hoofed animals. In white-tailed deer the severity of the disease depends upon the deer’s previous exposure to the virus and strain of the virus. At this time, it does not appear that EHD is endemic (always found) in Wisconsin which means that when the virus does appear here, it is more likely to be fatal to deer.
The disease was diagnosed for the first time in Wisconsin deer in the fall of 2002 when approximately 14 deer were found suddenly dead in Iowa County. In the fall of 2012, deer found dead in eight southern Wisconsin counties tested positive for EHD. In the fall of 2019, EHD was detected in deer found dead in southwestern Wisconsin.
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CWD was first detected in Wisconsin in 2002 when three deer taken by hunters in the fall of 2001 near the village of Mount Horeb, about 10 miles southwest of Madison, tested positive. Since that time an intensive surveillance effort has been undertaken to better understand the geographic distribution of the disease, the prevalence of the disease where it occurs and changes in the prevalence over time.
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Collection and analysis methods
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Sampling stations were set up at previous registration stations which allowed for the collection of biological samples for CWD testing. Age, sex and kill location (deer management unit, county and Public Land Survey System [PLSS] township/section) are collected from harvested deer. Retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes are collected for CWD testing by the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
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The graphs on this page show the number of deer tested and the number positive for CWD per year. A subset of these sampled deer are sick deer that were showing clinical signs for CWD. Often these deer are reported to the department by a landowner or citizen in the area. The landowner may get permission to dispatch the deer if the deer can be put down safely or a department employee will put the deer down. The deer is then tested for CWD, if possible. Not all sick deer in higher prevalence counties are tested for CWD.
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Limitations and precautions
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Limited statewide CWD program funding precludes sampling everywhere each year. Because sample sizes are limited, estimation of the geographic distribution of disease requires pooling data over multiple years. Likewise, estimation of changes in time require combining data over multiple areas (e.g., townships).
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It will be important to develop ways to cost-effectively assess CWD prevalence and geographic distribution with limitations in budgets and resources.
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Additional background materials related to this metric
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Additional information on deer health can be found on the department website.
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