GREAT OUTDOORS: State provides update on deer disease

To provide updated information about chronic wasting disease in Ohio's wild deer herd, the Ohio Division of Wildlife held open houses in four northwestern Ohio locations. A total of 139 people attended the sessions in late April in the counties of Marion, Hardin, Allen and Wyandot. They were moderated by District 1 wildlife management supervisor Gary Comer and presented by Ohio's deer biologists Clint McCoy and Bob Ford. Questions about Ohio's deer management policies were answered by District 2 manager Scott Butterworth and Mike Reynolds, executive administrator for wildlife management research. The presentation included a description of chronic wasting disease, the divison's response, the 2023-24 hunt and sampling summary and future actions. According to the division presentation, chronic wasting disease "is an always fatal neurological disease affecting members of the deer family causing normal prion proteins to misfold. This sets off a "chain reaction," which ultimately creates holes in nervous system tissue (most notably the brain)." Chronic wasting disease is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, similar to scrapie in sheep, bovine spongiform encephalopathy or mad cow disease in cattle and Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease in humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control, no strong evidence exists that chronic wasting disease is transmissible to humans, but it recommends that hunters test their deer when in areas of known chronic wasting disease occurrence and not to consume the meat of an animal that tests positive. The disease is spread through direct animal-to-animal contact or by contact with contaminated materials in the environment. Infectious prions that are released into the environment — saliva, urine, feces, decaying carcass — can remain infectious for years and, there is no cure for infected animals. Infected deer can look normal until they begin exhibiting progressive weight loss, increased drinking and excessive salivation, loss of awareness and reduced fear of danger, also known as zombie deer, making them more susceptible to predation, vehicle strikes and hunters. Although seen earlier in Ohio's captive deer in multiple locations, the history of chronic wasting disease in the wild deer herd began in 2020 when two tested positive in Wyandot County near Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area. In 2023 and 2024, 27 deer were found to be chronic wasting disease-positive, including one out of 923 tested in Hardin County, four of 618 in Marion County, 21 of 1,193 in Wyandot County and one out of the 73 tested in Allen County. Clearly, chronic wasting disease is expanding and is likely to enter adjacent counties. The deer surveillance area that was established in Wyandot, Hardin and Marion counties banned baiting and feeding, established carcass movement rules and mandated inspections of harvested deer on specified dates. Additionally, early seasons were scheduled in the deer surveillance area to decrease herd size before the rut to help reduce numbers of far-ranging infected deer spreading the disease. Post-season culls by agency shooters in 2023 and 2024 resulted in 130 deer being removed. And after test results were known, 3,899 pounds of venison was donated to charities. Keys to managing the disease are proper carcass handling and disposal, along with population management. In other states, lowering deer densities slowed the spread. Dumpsters for carcass disposal are provided in the deer surveillance area. Ohio's 2024-25 deer seasons include the statewide dates for archery, gun and muzzle-loaders plus an earlier start of archery season in the deer surveillance area and an early deer surveillance area-only firearm season. Jackson and Auglaize townships in Allen County have been added to the deer surveillance area. Successful hunters who want their deer tested next season can drop off the heads containing the lymph glands needed to be examined for chronic wasting disease at self-serve kiosks in the deer surveillance area counties. There also will be staffed check stations on four announced dates, or use cooperating taxidermists. Further information can be obtained by calling the chronic wasting disease hotline at 419-429-8322.