CWD Detected in Idaho, Here's What Sportsmen Can Do Now
This week, Idaho Department of Fish & Game broke the news that two mule deer bucks harvested north of Riggins tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Though CWD has been detected in neighboring states and in Canada, this is uncharted territory for Idaho. The future of game management in Idaho is sure to change.
First detected in captive deer in Colorado, CWD is an always-fatal prion disease that affects cervids such as deer, elk, and moose. Often called “zombie deer disease",” CWD-diseased animals may display unusual behavior, drastic weight loss, and a lack of coordination. Once introduced into an area, CWD proteins can spread rapidly and may remain in the environment for extended periods of time. Early detection and management is necessary to prevent disease spread.
The threat to Idaho’s hunting opportunity is drastic. The future of game management in Idaho is surely to change.
IWF has been the leading sporting voice calling for increased resources to fight CWD. For years, we’ve birddogged state agencies, organized meetings with representatives in D.C., and discussed on-the-ground action with stakeholders.
This Spring, IWF actively engaged the Idaho State Department of Agriculture’s negotiated rule making process to change Rules Governing Domestic Cervidae. In these updated rules, any elk or reindeer farm that imports animals from a location within 25-miles from a confirmed case of CWD in wild cervids must now test 100% of all domestic cervids that die for any reason. IWF also influenced changes to fence height requirements that will help prevent potential ingress and egress of wild animals into domestic elk and reindeer farms. IWF will ensure that these commonsense rules are approved by the legislature early next year.
Vital CWD mitigation legislation was introduced in Congress in October. The recently introduced CWD Research and Management Act would give state agencies the resources needed to manage and research this disease- the bipartisan bill would authorize $70 million a year in CWD funding, split evenly between management actions and research. The Act has already passed through the House Agriculture Committee.