The years of trying to contain chronic wasting disease in wild deer in Minnesota has been fairly effective, although the disease has been tough to control.
But the Department of Natural Resources and hunters deserve credit for being vigilant and limiting the disease.
CWD is a prion disease that affects cervids like deer, elk and moose and is always fatal.
There have been no reported cases of CWD in humans, but it’s considered a theoretical risk.
Statewide, 279 deer have tested positive for CWD since 2010. And there were another 13 that were found in captive herds.
Those numbers are very low compared to other states, including Wisconsin.
In 2023-24 alone, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tested 17,329 deer for CWD and found 1,586 positive cases, which is a record high.
In Minnesota, since 2002, more than 120,000 deer have been tested at a cost to the state of $21.3 million.
Recently the Minnesota DNR has put more focus on southeastern Minnesota, including around Wabasha and Preston where CWD has been detected. More than 40 deer with CWD were detected in the southeast in 2023.
Deer hunters heading out this coming fall will need to check on any restrictions in the area they will be hunting in, including restrictions on carcass movement.
The Minnesota DNR has been aggressive in testing for CWD and in placing some restrictions in areas where it’s been detected.
That proactive approach has helped put Minnesota in a much better spot than other states when it comes to limiting the disease.
CWD will likely never be eliminated, but the state and hunters must continue to be vigilant in testing and taking steps to limit its spread.