MDNR Report
Gladwin is now the 18th Michigan county where chronic wasting disease has been identified in the wild deer population, according to the Michigan DNR.
A hunter-harvested deer from Clement Township recently tested positive for the disease.
The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the CWD finding. The sample was also sent for a secondary confirmation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where results are pending but anticipated to confirm CWD infection.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease has also been detected in the following Michigan counties: Allegan, Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw and Washtenaw.
A chronic, slow-developing disease that spreads slowly across the landscape, CWD has been detected in Midland County to the south of Gladwin and in Ogemaw County to the north. Gladwin County was under focused CWD surveillance in 2021, as part of the DNR’s rotational approach to surveillance.
“The detection of chronic wasting disease in Gladwin County is consistent with the slow, incremental spread we have observed across Michigan,” said Brent Rudolph, DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist. “New positive results can be alarming for nearby communities and frustrating as the total count continues to grow, but these detections are critical to our understanding of the scope of chronic wasting disease in our state. We greatly appreciate hunters’ continued persistence in submitting samples for testing.”
The public is encouraged to report sick deer at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField. Deer that appear emaciated, lethargic, disoriented, lame or unresponsive are good candidates for CWD testing, though these symptoms are characteristic of deer affected by other maladies or injuries as well.
Proper disposal of deer carcasses is critical to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease. Deer carcasses and parts should go directly to a landfill or be disposed of through regular bagged trash pickup. Studies show that CWD can survive on the landscape for years, contributing to the spread of disease. Deer harvested from known CWD areas should never be disposed of on the landscape.
For more information on chronic wasting disease, visit Michigan.gov/CWD.