Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a grave malady that continues to lurk among the shadows of our natural habitats.
This rising threat is not just causing a drastic decline in deer, elk, and moose populations, it’s altering the course of life in the wilderness itself, disrupting ecological balance.
Our understanding of this disease has never been more important.
Let’s learn more.
1. What is Chronic Wasting Disease?
At its core, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting certain species of deer, elk, and moose.
The disease belongs to a group of conditions known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which are characterized by the abnormal folding of specific proteins in the brain and nervous system, called prions.
Another famous prion disease is bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease.
If you could see inside the brain of an afflicted animal, you would witness a scene not dissimilar to a neglected garden.
The prions, acting like voracious weeds, slowly strangle the health of the nervous tissue, creating microscopic holes as they proliferate.
The result is brain tissue that resembles a sponge, hence the name spongiform.
This insidious progression leads to a series of dire neurological symptoms, culminating in the animal’s death.
The first case of CWD was diagnosed in captive mule deer in Colorado in the 1960s.
Since then, the disease has been reported in 26 states in the U.S, three provinces in Canada, and in other countries like Norway, Finland, and South Korea, usually in captive or wild deer populations.
The ongoing expansion of CWD is a cause for concern among wildlife and conservation communities alike.
While there is no evidence to suggest that CWD can jump species to afflict non-cervid wildlife, its devastating effects on deer populations have far-reaching implications for ecosystems at large.
For instance, a significant decline in deer numbers could disrupt food chains, altering the population dynamics of predators and scavengers.
Understanding the nature of Chronic Wasting Disease is the first step in a collective effort to control its spread.
From the tiny misfolded prions wreaking havoc at a microscopic level to its macroscopic impacts on wilderness ecosystems, CWD is a complex and urgent issue.
Its insidious nature and ongoing spread demand our attention, our research, and our resolve.
2. Symptoms of Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic Wasting Disease, much like an invisible storm, gradually erodes the health of affected animals, often making them unrecognizable in their own skin.
While the prions are busily causing havoc in the animal’s brain, a suite of telling symptoms begins to surface, providing the external evidence of the internal crisis.
An early symptom often noted is a marked change in behavior.
Animals may seem listless, disoriented, or display an inexplicable loss of fear of humans.
They might also demonstrate unusual activity during the daytime.
A sign that their innate rhythms have been disrupted by the disease.
As CWD progresses, affected animals often exhibit dramatic weight loss.
They become mere skeletons of their former selves, leading to the common term ‘wasting’ disease.
Despite a seemingly insatiable appetite, these animals progressively lose body condition, resulting in a gaunt and emaciated appearance.
The disease also takes a toll on the animal’s motor functions.
Coordination becomes an uphill battle for the afflicted creatures.
Observers might notice an awkward gait, stumbling, or difficulty moving as the disease seizes control over the animal’s muscular coordination.
Furthermore, the disease causes excessive thirst and urination in affected animals.
As such, an animal that is often found near water sources and displays symptoms like weight loss and difficulty moving may be a victim of CWD.
An important note is that these symptoms do not appear immediately after infection.
It could take anywhere from a year to two years for the signs to manifest.
This lengthy incubation period, coupled with the absence of a definitive live-animal test, makes CWD a challenging disease to manage and contain.
By the time symptoms become apparent, the affected animal would have been shedding prions into the environment for months, if not years.
Though disheartening, understanding these symptoms is a necessary part of recognizing the invisible enemy that is Chronic Wasting Disease.
By observing the silent cries for help made manifest through these signs, we can become better guardians of our wildlife populations and the ecosystems they inhabit.
3. How Do Animals Transmit CWD?
The transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) among cervids, the deer family, is a complex process that hinges on both direct and indirect contact.
Direct transmission typically occurs through bodily fluids like saliva, urine, and feces.
It’s easy to envision a group of deer grazing together, their heads close to the ground and to each other, or a young fawn nuzzling its mother, as opportunities for the disease to find a new host.
And, indeed, once an animal is infected, it starts to shed the misfolded prions responsible for CWD in its bodily fluids, becoming a potential source of infection for its kin.
The environment also plays a notable role in indirect transmission.
These abnormally folded proteins, or prions, are remarkably resilient.
They can remain infectious in soil or on vegetation for years, waiting like an unwelcome legacy for the next unsuspecting creature to happen upon them.
This environmental persistence of CWD prions complicates control efforts.
It means that even if an area’s entire population of deer is removed, the disease could still exist in the environment, ready to infect any newcomers.
Adding to this complexity is the observation that certain practices, like the concentration of animals in captivity or at feeding stations, can enhance the transmission of CWD by increasing contact rates between animals and maximizing exposure to contaminated environments.
4. How to Prevent Chronic Wasting Disease
While Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) poses a significant challenge to wildlife health and conservation, there are numerous measures we can adopt to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Here are a few important ones:
Avoid Artificial Concentration of Deer
A key aspect of Chronic Wasting Disease prevention involves disrupting opportunities for transmission, and a significant part of this is limiting the artificial concentration of deer.
Activities such as feeding or baiting deer might seem benign or even beneficial on the surface, but they can inadvertently create hotbeds for disease transmission.
When deer congregate in large numbers around a feed site, their proximity to each other dramatically increases opportunities for direct transmission of CWD.
They are in closer contact, and the sharing of feed or bait results in the communal exchange of saliva.
Similarly, the heightened density of deer results in a greater concentration of urine and feces in a confined space.
Both these scenarios can accelerate the spread of CWD prions among the gathered deer population.
The sites where feeding or baiting occurs can also become long-term reservoirs of infectious prions.
As these prions are shed through saliva, urine, and feces, they contaminate the soil and vegetation, remaining infectious for years.
So, even after the deer disperse, these sites continue to pose a risk to any animal that happens upon them.
In short, what may initially seem like a gesture of goodwill towards our wildlife can, unfortunately, contribute to the propagation of a deadly disease.
By resisting the urge to artificially gather deer, we can help disrupt the cycle of CWD transmission and contribute to the overall health of these majestic creatures.
Test the Deer or Elk Before Eating
For those who hunt not just for sport, but for sustenance, Chronic Wasting Disease presents a unique concern.
Although there is currently no evidence to suggest that CWD can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated meat, caution is advised.
If you harvest a deer or elk in an area where CWD has been reported, it’s a good practice to have the animal tested before consuming the meat.
Many states offer testing services, often through local wildlife agencies or universities.
Dispose of Carcasses Properly
For hunters, proper carcass disposal is not merely an act of environmental stewardship, but a key preventative measure against the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease.
Prions, the rogue proteins that cause CWD, can persist in the environment long after an animal’s demise.
These resilient pathogens can remain in soil and on vegetation, posing an ongoing threat of transmission to other animals.
When you harvest a deer, elk, or moose in an area known to have CWD, it’s important to prevent prions from entering the ecosystem.
Rather than field dress the carcass or discarding it near a water source, consider bagging it and taking it to a proper disposal site or landfill.
This precaution helps to limit the potential for prions to contaminate the local environment.
Adhere to Hunting Regulations
Hunting regulations are more than just bureaucratic guidelines; they are strategic measures designed to safeguard our wildlife populations.
For the fight against Chronic Wasting Disease, adherence to these rules is an important line of defense.
A notable rule pertains to the movement of harvested deer, especially across state lines or from areas known to be affected by CWD.
Such regulations help prevent the inadvertent transport of CWD prions into new areas, which could potentially start new disease clusters.
Compliance with these restrictions, along with other hunting rules, is an act of responsible hunting.
By respecting these measures, hunters play a significant role in preventing the spread of CWD and protecting the long-term health of the deer populations we cherish.
Report Sick Animals
Your eyes and ears in the wild can be invaluable allies in the fight against Chronic Wasting Disease.
If you encounter a deer, elk, or moose exhibiting signs of CWD — such as weight loss, disorientation, or unusual behavior like a lack of fear of humans — don’t ignore it.
Contact your local wildlife agency and report the incident.
Providing specific information about the location and symptoms observed can help wildlife experts track and manage the disease’s spread.
The more vigilant we are in detecting possible CWD cases, the more effectively authorities can respond and contain the threat.
Educate Others
Knowledge is a potent tool.
By educating others about CWD — its nature, its impacts, and the steps we can take to combat it — we can build a community that is equipped to act.
Discuss the disease with fellow hunters, share information with your family and friends, or even use your social media platforms to raise awareness.
Every conversation counts.
The goal is to make sure that the threat of CWD is understood.
And that the responsibility to manage it is shared.
As we collectively enhance our understanding of CWD, we create a community better prepared to limit the disease’s spread.
This collective awareness and action are our strongest defense against this formidable wildlife health challenge.
5. Do Humans Suffer From Chronic Wasting Disease?
When it comes to our relationship with the disease, the data presents a curious and somewhat relieving fact:
As of now, humans have not been documented to contract CWD.
This doesn’t mean we can completely discount the possibility, but rather, that we should approach it with a measured understanding.
Scientific exploration has raised some concern in this area.
Research involving non-human primates, like monkeys, has suggested potential risks when these animals are exposed to CWD.
Whether through consumption of infected meat or contact with contaminated brain or body fluids, the disease has shown an ability to cross species barriers in these studies.
While these findings may seem ominous, it’s important to note that they are not directly applicable to humans.
Our biology differs significantly from that of monkeys, and extrapolating results across species is fraught with complexity.
Still, these studies show us the need for ongoing research and vigilance.
They remind us that while CWD has not jumped to humans yet, the natural world often harbors surprises.
It’s our responsibility to remain informed, cautious, and above all, respectful of the wild spaces we share with creatures like deer and elk.
6. What Happens if You Eat An Animal With CWD?
Consuming the meat of a CWD-infected animal remains a subject of debate and study within the scientific community.
As it stands, evidence supporting the transmission of CWD to humans through the consumption of contaminated meat is not present.
Yet, in the pursuit of caution, experts advise against the practice.
The World Health Organization, an international authority on health issues, recommends keeping any disease-causing prion out of the human food chain.
If a deer or elk you’ve harvested is found to have CWD, it is wise to refrain from consuming its meat.
While the risk may be uncertain, prioritizing your health and the health of those who share your table is always a commendable choice.
Final Thoughts
Chronic Wasting Disease presents a complex challenge in the management of our wildlife, particularly our cherished populations of deer, elk, and moose.
With a commitment to education, vigilance, and responsible practices, we can each play a part in addressing this issue.
Even as research continues to unravel the mysteries of CWD, our collective action today will help shape the future health of our wildlife.
And by extension, the wild spaces we all enjoy.
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Disclaimer: we are not lawyers, accountants or financial advisors and the information in this article is for informational purposes only. This article is based on our own research and experience and we do our best to keep it accurate and up-to-date, but it may contain errors. Please be sure to consult a legal or financial professional before making any investment decisions.
Prior to starting Gokce Capital, Erika received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California and a graduate degree in Urban Policy from Columbia University. She worked as both an architectural designer and engineer in New York before joining the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Erika currently lives in the New York Metropolitan area with her spouse, daughter and cat. She is originally from Chicago and still considers herself a midwesterner at heart.
Erika also loves to read, write and travel (fun fact, she has visited all 50 states and more than 30 countries!). Her new book, Land Investing Mistakes: 11 True Stories You Need To Know Before Buying Land, is now available on Amazon.