FILE: Moab’s melanistic stag who died of chronic wasting disease had a rare condition that overproduced the melanin pigment. (Photo: Steve Ross)
(Photo: Steve Ross)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Division of Wildlife Resources is asking Utah hunters to have harvested deer screened for chronic wasting diseases.
Oh deer: what is chronic wasting disease?
It is a communicable disease that affects the nervous systems of moose, elk, and deer. The disease was first discovered in a buck in the Vernal area in Utah in 2002. There are currently 124 mule deer and three moose tested for the disease, according to DWR.
Additionally, the DWR also reports that the disease was found in only six hunting units across the state. These units are mainly located in the central, northeast, and southeast parts of the state.
“We take CWD’s presence in Utah seriously and will continue to conduct extensive surveillance to keep an eye on the disease and its prevalence in the state,” said Ginger Stout, veterinarian for DWR State Wildlife. “We ask hunters to stop at our control stations if they kill a deer in the sampling units to help us with our CWD surveillance in Utah.”
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