Bill Would Weaken Idaho’s Already Lax CWD Regulations for Elk Farms

HB 591, which is set to be heard in the Senate Agriculture committee, stands to not only codify deficient levels of testing and standards for domestic elk farms regarding Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), it also backslides on current rules that already fall short of protecting Idaho from further CWD spread. 

Photo: Dr. Terry Kreeger, Wyoming Game and Fish Department

For reference, CWD is an always-fatal disease caused by misfolded proteins (called prions) replicated in cells. Infected animals can spread the prions into the environment for up to two years or more before succumbing to death, usually caused by secondary causes like starvation, freezing, not running from predators or vehicles, etc. It’s been referred to as the zombie deer disease, and ravages healthy deer, elk, and moose herds. 

Hence, the critical importance to implement measures from allowing it to spread through wild herds and domestic cervid farms. Many documented cases in Idaho prove domestic animals escape from farms and wild animals getting into facilities. The problem with having poor CWD regulations for the domestic industry is the prevalence of the disease in domestic farms in the US and Canada, where Idaho’s 44 farms import animals from. Considering the ingress/egress of wild and domestic animals into/from these facilities, our already poor regulations offer significant risk of CWD spread. This bill will only make matters much worse.

Since the spring of 2022, IWF has actively engaged in the Idaho State Department of Agriculture’s (ISDA) negotiated rulemaking process to change Rules Governing Domestic Cervidae, including petitioning for rulemaking that would have ratcheted down on CWD testing requirements. In 2022, our petition for rulemaking asked ISDA to mandate 100% testing for CWD if a domestic elk producer is within 25-miles of a confirmed case of CWD in the wild, no matter the cause of death. Unfortunately, ISDA kept testing at existing levels; 10% of all harvested animals, 100% for any animals that die from unknown causes, and 100% from any farm that imports animals from outside the state and that area out of state is 25-miles from a confirmed case in the wild. (IWF did influence changes to fence height requirements that will help prevent potential ingress and egress of wild animals into domestic reindeer farms.) At that time, CWD was an ongoing issue in surrounding states. Late in 2021, Idaho Department of Fish & Game broke the news that two mule deer bucks harvested north of Riggins tested positive for CWD.

HB 536 looks to codify the rules set by Idaho State Department of Agriculture, but, unfortunately, let’s off the pedal in a few concerning ways: 

  • Carcasses or parts of the carcass of a possibly infected animal can go to the processor or taxidermist, contaminating along the way.

  • Meat from carcasses can be transported without restriction, where previously meat could not be transported unless properly wrapped.

  • Allows animals to be on the same ground an infected animal has been, a major risk considering animals shed prions that can stay in the soil for up to seven years.

  • Allows facility owners to move animals between facilities for harvest.

  • ISDA has limited ability to monitor or track in-state movement of animal between farms.

  • Definition of commingling of animals significantly more relaxed.

  • CWD exposed and CWD suspect definitions do not align with ISDA rules, causing confusion.

  • Would allow CWD exposed animals to be moved to other facilities throughout the state (within state lines) with little oversight from ISDA. 

  • Bill text is ambiguous, it does not address additional surveillance.

Just this last year, it was found that two Idaho elk farms imported animals from Canadian facilities that had positive CWD detections.

Now is not the time to be pulling back on rules intended to protect Idaho’s iconic deer and elk herds. IWF stands in opposition of HB 536, and any future bill that doesn’t adequately address the risks posed by this always-fatal disease, and the cultural and economic consequences it has for sportsmen in Idaho. 

IWF requests that you please contact your state Representatives and Senators today, using the form below, to let them know Idaho hunters and anglers will not support any bills that would potentially open the door for CWD to continue to proliferate in Idaho. 

Idaho Wildlife