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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.
Copyright 2008 Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance
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. For more information on
CWD and hunting, click here.
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Important
Notice to Washington State Hunters
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Hunters
can check the results of their harvest online using the CWD
Survey Results form.
For more information on CWD and hunting, please click
here.
 Hunters
reminded to review safety procedures, state rules before heading
afield
-Oct 2008
Wildlife
officials urge hunters to follow rules on import of bone-in
deer, elk carcasses
-Sep 2005
Hunters
could face penalties on import of some bone-in deer, elk carcasses
- Aug 2004
RULE
CHANGE: Restrictions set on importation of non-resident deer
and elk carcasses
- Aug 2004
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