Louisiana may have its first reported case of a neurodegenerative disease that attacks white-tailed deer. Samples from an adult buck hunter-harvested in Tensas Parish showed signs of Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD.
Tensas Parish has been an area under observation by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries since 2018. Dr. Jim LaCour says LDWF has been preparing for CWD to make its way from neighboring states and into Louisiana.
“We didn’t want to get it, but we were expecting to come at some point, so it’s not totally unexpected,” said LaCour.
The state received a preliminary positive test result on the deer from the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at LSU, and now it awaits confirmation from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which would put LDWF protocols into effect.
“Once the confirmation is available and then we will start on our CWD response plan, it may involve feeding and baiting bans or carcass exportation bans out of that area,” said LaCour.
Dr. LaCour says that we can help by keeping our eyes open for deer that look emaciated, uncoordinated, and have a lack of fear of people, among other warning signs, and reporting when we do.
“We always encourage the public to call our field offices if they see any deer that is acting abnormal,” said LaCour.
Additional information on Chronic Wasting Disease is available on the LDWF website.
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