The Department of Natural Resources’ ongoing search for Chronic Wasting Disease in area deer continues to show good results.
The search, which aims to test 900 deer in about a 10-mile radius in Olmsted County, has shown negative test results in all 350 deer tested thus far.
“I’m somewhat relieved,” said Don Nelson, an area wildlife manager for Olmsted County. However, he and others expect to find at least one or two infected deer. “We’re still not gonna be surprised if we see a few positives,” he said.
Nelson is one of few people in Minnesota who hopes winter lasts just a little longer, so he and his colleagues can finish more tests on deer.
The landowner permits to shoot deer expire the end of February, but sharpshooters from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will continue taking deer until the goal of 900 is met or as long as weather keeps deer concentrated in one area.
“It’s hard work,” said Michelle Carstensen, DNR wildlife health program coordinator. “This isn’t necessarily fun for everybody.”
The sharpshooters efficiently remove animals and will work with area landowners to continue taking deer from their lands, according to Carstensen.
When this study is complete, testing will continue as usual during the hunting season. Meanwhile, the DNR likely won’t test any additional areas unless it finds disease near boundaries of the current test area.
“I think the jury is out yet on what we have for this disease,” Carstensen said.
The DNR currently has more than 100 pending tests, with more trickling in every day. It is unclear whether researchers will reach their objective of 900 tests, however. Once weather warms up, deer will spread out again to other areas, making it harder to find them.
So far, the DNR has issued a ban on recreational feeding. That will prevent deer from spreading the disease where they share the same source of food. More testing continues throughout the states to determine other ways to prevent the disease.