Deer in Stillwater confirmed to have had chronic wasting disease before death

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has confirmed that a deceased deer had chronic wasting disease (CWD).

According to the DNR, the deer was first seen by a landowner who saw the animal acting strangely, appearing not to be afraid of humans and appearing emaciated. When the deer died on July 16, the DNR retrieved the deer’s body and had it tested, where CWD was detected.

“This discovery near Stillwater is unfortunate and highlights the importance of the public’s awareness of and ability to report sick deer, as well as our protocol to have these deer tested for CWD,” said Michelle Carstensen, DNR Wildlife Health Program supervisor. “We thank the landowner who reported this animal because public participation is necessary to keep our deer population healthy.”

This detection was located in deer permit area 236 and is about 30 miles from the closest confirmed CWD cases in both Minnesota and western Wisconsin.