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No evidence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) was found in the 1,409 samples tested from deer brought to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources鈥� stations in the region during the first two days of the firearm opener.

鈥淭he good news is there were no positive tests yet for our area and the vast majority of testing is complete,鈥� Park Rapids area DNR forestry supervisor Erik Thorson said.

As of Nov. 27, 984 samples from permit area No. 684 were tested with 7 pending, 408 were tested from No. 259 with 3 pending and 17 deer tested from No. 287.

Contributed/Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

鈥淲e will do testing and surveillance for testing again next fall,鈥� Thorson said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 our best opportunity to get a good distribution of samples. Animals in the beginning stages of CWD may appear to be healthy, so this testing can pick it up if it鈥檚 present.鈥�

He said, in areas where there are cases of CWD, measures to reduce the spread are taken.

鈥淚t鈥檚 similar to stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hrough good management strategies with CWD you can keep the spread down. The goal is to keep it from impacting deer populations and hunting long term. In the southeastern part of the state, they have more disease in wild deer and have had it for a longer period of time. They have more liberal hunting seasons to keep the deer population down, like late season hunts, and where they have hot spots, they do landowner permits after the season or culling efforts. Those efforts can help reduce the spread and prevalence of the disease.鈥�

Thorson said a deer-feeding ban remains in effect in Hubbard and Beltrami counties.

鈥淭his is done to help reduce the risk of CWD spreading,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 one aspect of managing the disease. Keeping the population density lower also helps reduce animal contact.鈥�

He said infected deer may also pass the disease along to their offspring.

鈥淐ontact between deer is one of the primary transmission modes,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f deer are eating close together, there鈥檚 a greater chance for the disease to spread. That鈥檚 why recreational deer feeding is banned in this area.鈥�

Use caution when hunting out of the areaThorson said hunters who come back with a deer carcass from a hunt in another part of the state or out of state need to take extra precautions.

鈥淏e sure to properly dispose of carcasses, especially the head and spinal column,鈥� he said. 鈥淐WD comes from an abnormal protein that is almost indestructible and persists in the environment. If someone dumps the carcass of a deer with the disease in their back woods, there鈥檚 the potential for that protein to be transferred if another deer ingests plants or soil from that area. Those proteins don鈥檛 decompose and can persist for many years. It鈥檚 not completely understood, but it鈥檚 certainly a risk.鈥�

Residents who notice a deer that appears sick or is dead from an unknown cause should contact their local DNR office.

鈥淯sually, the symptoms appear in the later stages of the disease,鈥� Thorson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 usually some kind of neurological issue, like a drooping head or ears or being uncoordinated. They also have a poor body condition. We鈥檙e interested in testing the deer, if we can get a sample.鈥�