Hunters Encouraged to Donate Heads for CWD Monitoring

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Two sites for hunters to drop off heads of harvested deer and elk in FWP’s Region 7 have again been set up for chronic wasting disease (CWD) monitoring. One is located at the FWP Regional Office in Miles City and the other will be in Broadus at the FWP office.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that has long been known to affect deer and elk. It has also now been found in a wild moose in Wyoming. According to FWP wildlife program manager, John Ensign, “CWD affects these animals by making small lesions in their brains. Some of the characteristics of infected animals are loss of body conditioning and behavioral abnormalities before an early death.”

Ensign said CWD is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), and is similar to mad cow disease in cattle and scrapie in sheep. CWD can spread through the affected wildlife species, but research suggests that human, cattle and other domestic livestock are resistant to natural transmission of the disease. While the possibility of human infection remains a concern, there hasn’t been any known case of CWD being transmitted to humans.

Ensign said hunters are asked to donate deer and elk heads for CWD testing if the animal was harvested in Region 7 in Hunting Districts 702, 704, and 705.   To confirm CWD, brain samples must undergo laboratory testing.

While in the field and preparing a sample head to donate, hunters are asked to keep in mind the following issues:  

·     Note precisely the location where the animal was harvested. They should use GPS coordinates or legal description (township, range and section) and note any drainage or landmark names. The geographical information is needed to pinpoint the harvest location in case the head tests positive for CWD.

·     Leave evidence of sex attached to the carcass. Hunters should leave reproductive organs or mammary glands attached to the carcass so that sex can be determined even after the head is removed.

·       Remove the head at the first vertebrae. This will allow technicians to remove the intact brain stem, which is then tested for the disease.

·     Leave name, ALS number and a phone number and the harvest site legal description on tags located at collection barrels. FWP will contact hunters if their sample tests positive for CWD.

·     Both male and female members of each species are being collected. Male animals can have their horns carefully removed and the sample remains viable.

 

Collection barrels for heads will be available at the following sites in Region 7:

·     The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks regional office in Miles City: John Ensign 234-0900.

·           In the Broadus area at the FWP office: Kristina Kasik 406-600-8890