Peace Garden News

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department conducted tests on 1,456 animals for chronic wasting disease (CWD) during the 2024 sampling season and confirmed that 17 deer tested positive. 

Sampling efforts did not reach the targeted goal of a 10% sample size in areas where CWD surveillance was concentrated, according to the Department.

The positive cases were identified in mule deer and whitetails. 

CWD is a highly contagious and fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk, moose, and other members of the deer family. It is spread from animal to animal or indirectly throughout contaminated regions. The disease damages the brain and spinal cord, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

To report deer, elk, or moose exhibiting signs of CWD—such as significant weight loss, abnormal behavior, or lack of coordination—contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Prompt reporting aids in the effective monitoring and management of CWD within the state's wildlife populations.

According to the Department's website, there is no cure or treatment for CWD. Once animals are affected in an area the disease stays present indefinitely. 

For detailed information on CWD, including how to report suspected cases, you can visit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's official page on the disease gf.nd.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd.