Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
What if Chronic Wasting Disease Makes it to Vermont?
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a contagious, always-fatal disease that affects members of the deer family, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose. The disease continues to spread in North America and has now been found in 35 US states and 5 Canadian provinces. There are no treatments or vaccines for CWD.
One of the most likely ways for CWD to reach Vermont is from hunters returning from another state with the carcass of an infected deer or elk and disposing of the parts on the landscape. The prions that cause CWD can be spread by scavengers, can remain in the soil for a long time and can be taken up by plants. Deer can become infected with CWD many years after the prions enter the environment.
The long-term impacts of CWD on the deer population, deer management and deer hunting are significant and irreversible. However, the situation is not hopeless. Scientists learn more about this disease every day, and that knowledge may eventually lead to solutions. But we need to stop it from spreading further. The most effective way to control CWD is to prevent it from getting here in the first place.
How You Can Help
- Report sick-looking deer to the Fish and Wildlife Department by calling 802-828-1000.
- Learn about CWD and how it spreads.
- If you hunt in another state, follow rules restricting carcass importation.
- Do not use natural urine lures.
- Encourage your friends to follow the rules.
Urine Lures It is illegal to use deer urine lures. They present a serious threat of introducing CWD to Vermont. CWD infectious prions can be present in deer urine lures. Use synthetic alternatives instead. |
States with CWD The Following States & Provinces Have or Have Had CWD States: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan Others may be added throughout the year. |
Importation Restrictions apply for the importation of deer or elk carcasses or parts from states or provinces that have, or have had, CWD. To date, the disease has been documented in 35 states and 5 Canadian provinces including New York State. New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts have not documented CWD. It is illegal to import deer or moose carcasses or parts from New York, Quebec, and all other states and provinces on the list. See Importing under the Big Game section for details. |
