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

• Map of CWD testing areas in Washington

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.

Please help WDFW monitor the health of our deer and elk populations by allowing us to test your harvested animals for Chronic Wasting Disease.

For information on how to have your harvest tested, click here.

Check your harvest's CWD test results: 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