Missouri Has Discovered a Stunning Number of Deer with Deadly CWD

If you didn't know that chronic waste disease was a problem in Missouri, you will now. The state has just shared the number of deer that they have discovered with the deadly disease and the number is staggering.

What is Chronic Waste Disease in Missouri deer?

The Centers for Disease Control say it's a prion disease which means a dysfunction in the proteins in the body that eventually causes them to move into the spine and kill the animal it's present in. It is 100% fatal in deer.

Is Chronic Wasting Disease dangerous to humans?

The CDC says there is no proof of transmission to humans, but they cannot rule out the fact that it's a possibility. That is why it is advised that you never hunt or handle any deer that appears to be sickly.

How many deer have been found with CWD in Missouri?

The Missouri Department of Conservation has just announced that 243 deer with Chronic Wasting Disease were discovered in just the past year with a majority just being discovered during last Fall's hunting season. While that is a big number, it's no reason for panic considering more than 276,000 deer in Missouri were harvest last Fall alone. Of note, 7 Missouri counties just reported their first case of CWD including Audrain, Callaway, Lewis, Marion, Miller, Morgan, and Texas counties.

The Missouri Department of Conservation continues to keep an eye on the progress of CWD in the state's deer population.