CWD testing aims at keeping Washington free of disease

Washington’s continued testing for chronic wasting disease in deer and elk will be focused in Eastern Washington this fall, Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said.

“No cases of CWD have been found in Washington since we began testing for it in 1995 – and we want to keep it that way,” said Kristin Mansfield, department wildlife veterinarian. If the disease enters Washington, it most likely will come from the east and through Idaho, said Kevin Robinette, department regional wildlife manager in Spokane.

“Hunters can help by stopping at voluntary check stations so their game can be sampled,” Mansfield said.

This year, WDFW will set up drop-off stations the week after the season opens and offer hunters a chance to win prizes for turning in deer and elk heads.

Hunters can also help by reporting deer and elk that are acting sick or behaving strangely, Mansfield said. Infected animals lose weight and coordination, become lethargic, hang their heads, droop their ears, and salivate more than normal.

CWD causes animals’ brain tissue to deteriorate similar to mad cow disease and is always fatal to the animal. Although it has not been found to transmit to humans, the meat of sickly big game should be avoided as a precaution, officials say.

Hunters can take extra precautions by not eating the brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, pancreas or lymph nodes of deer and elk. Mansfield also recommended that, as a general rule, hunters should not harvest animals that appear ill, and practice good hygiene by wearing rubber gloves while field dressing game and thoroughly washing their hands and equipment after processing carcasses.