CWD threat nears Henry County

MT. PLEASANT — Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal neurological illness affecting deer and elk, is drawing growing concern from local conservation officials after confirmed cases surfaced just north of Burlington.

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“It is not [Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease], which is usually found during drought periods,” Henry County Conservation Director Caleb Waters said. “Unfortunately, we have our first case here in southeast Iowa last year, north of Burlington. So, it is in our neck of the woods.”

The disease, which affects the brains of white-tailed deer and other similar mammals, leads to severe weight loss, abnormal behavior, and eventually death.

Waters expressed concern about the CWD which spreads through saliva, urine, feces, and contaminated environments.

“It could be very detrimental to our deer herd here,” Waters said. “Because it is transmitted by saliva, urine … it could, you know, pass on to the deer herd. Which for some people might be a good thing because they don’t like deer, but for hunters, not so much.”

Waters recently helped organize a two-part Chronic Wasting Disease awareness program alongside the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University Extension. The program aimed to inform both conservation professionals and the general public, particularly important in a region well-known for its robust whitetail hunting culture.

“Southeast Iowa is known for its whitetail hunting,” Waters said. “So, they also offered a public course, if you will, for anyone interested in learning more.”

Signs of a potentially infected deer include drastic weight loss, poor coordination, drooping ears, excessive salivation, and aimless movement such as walking in circles. According to the Iowa DNR, hunters or landowners noticing such symptoms should avoid approaching the animal and contact their local conservation officer or the DNR.

“The best way to test the deer, if they're, you know, not acting like they should … most likely that animal is going to have to be put down,” Waters said. “Then you can test, take the lymph nodes out and send that off to a lab.”

CWD poses no confirmed health risk to humans at this time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, health officials advise against consuming meat from infected animals and recommend testing deer from known CWD areas before consumption.

The DNR emphasizes that proper carcass disposal of infected animals is essential to prevent further environmental contamination, especially avoiding dumping remains in ditches, streams, or on the landscape. Those who harvest deer outside of Henry County but process them locally should take extra care to follow containment guidelines.

Hunters can also view maps of current CWD-positive zones, disposal site locations, and instructions for safely handling and processing harvested deer at www.iowadnr.gov

The Iowa DNR offers free CWD testing during the hunting season and strongly encourages participation from hunters in southeast Iowa. Waters said local staff in Henry, Des Moines, and Van Buren counties are now prepared to assist with sample collection and public education.

“For hunters like myself, you know, I’m all about managing the population. But unfortunately, yeah, Mother Nature says otherwise,” Waters said.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com