Chronic wasting disease (CWD)
CWD sampling is available statewide. However, the DNR is especially interested in receiving more samples from our 2024 Fall Priority Areas to better understand disease levels and distribution.
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal, infectious nervous system disease of deer, moose, elk and reindeer/caribou. It belongs to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases. CWD occurs only in members of the cervid or deer family -- both wild and captive. The Wisconsin DNR began monitoring the state's wild white-tailed deer population for CWD in 1999. The first positives were found in 2002.
