KENTUCKY, USA — Kentucky's first and only case of chronic wasting disease was detected in Ballard County out in the western part of the state.
It affects the brains of deer and elk, slowly killing them. The CDC says there have been no reported cases of the infection in humans, but they recommend avoiding meat from infected deer.
"The department is fully prepared to handle CWD, but ultimately we want our deer hunters and our landowners and our wildlife enthusiasts to not panic," said Gabe Jenkins, deputy commissioner of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. They've been prepared for this moment with a response plan that started in 2003.
He's confident deer hunting will continue, but acknowledged there could be some changes for those hunting in a CWD zone.
One of this year's earlier measures delayed when bait could be set for deer, since the disease spreads through fluids like saliva.
Hunters David Waterman and Austin Allen with Kentucky Thermal Drone Deer Recovery help people find deer they've lost while hunting. As people who enjoy the hobby, they encourage others to have their carcasses tested and report deer with unusual behavior to fish and wildlife.
"Highly recommend that. It's better to be safe than sorry," Allen said.
With deer season ending soon on Jan. 15, 2024, the department's Director of Wildlife Ben Robinson said regulatory changes wouldn't do much benefit. That's because they don't see a lot of deer being harvested this time of year, he said.
"But that doesn't mean we're not taking action," he added. "We are actively in the area. We're collecting samples. We're having quite a bit of success with just road kills right now."
Testing dead deer for the disease is most effective because they can carry it for around a year and half without showing any symptoms. It's why the department encourages hunters to drop off their deer heads for testing. Right now, they have over 1200 samples waiting for a result.
"The majority of those are from our statewide surveillance," said Dr. Christine Casey, the state wildlife veterinarian. She expected the testing for that large batch to complete in February of 2024.
The commission said they would hold public meetings soon for the affected areas in western Kentucky. Meanwhile, even non-hunters can report deer if they're exhibiting odd behavior using Fish and Wildlife's online form.
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