ROBINSONVILLE, Miss.–Chronic wasting disease, or CWD in deer, has been increasing in Mississippi, and the Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is asking the state legislature to keep giving them money to both detect and study the disease.
“We had 101 samples turned in that were positive this year, so far,” said Lynn Posey, executive director of the agency, talking before the state House committee on Appropriations, Monday. “That gives us a total of 308.”
Chronic wasting disease is not thought to be a threat to humans, but does pose a threat to the overall deer population. It is a degenerative disease, which causes brain cells to die, and is spread from animal to animal. The most common symptoms are behavioral changes, loss of fear of humans and emaciation.
The DWFP has established management zones, many of which are in the upper Delta: Tate, Tunica and Panola counties, with the addition of Warren County to the south. These zones allow for testing.
“It’s in 14 different counties now,” said Posey. “Eighty-six percent of the samples we’re getting are coming from taxidermists who get $10 a piece to collect these samples for us.”
The first positive was in 2018 in Issaquena County.
Posey said the agency needs $400,000 per year to continue the program.
