Mississippi’s third case of Chronic Wasting Disease has been confirmed.
A 2.5-year-old white-tailed deer in Issaquena initially tested positive after a sample was submitted to the Department of Wildlife in early November, and the National Veterinary Services Lab has now confirmed the case.
With the confirmation, the department will now create a 25-mile CWD Management Zone surrounding the area where the deer was found.
Inside of the Management Zone, it is unlawful to:
- Supplemental feeding
- Establish new mineral sites or add supplements to existing sites
- Remove certain portions of cervid carcasses from the zone (carcass regulations)
- Trap wild hogs without a permit from MDWFP.
As the department aims to prevent the spread of the disease, they’re asking hunters to be on the lookout for sick deer. William T. McKinley, the director of the deer program for the MDWFP, stated that you’ll most likely be able to notice certain behavioral issues in a deer that is infected.
“The deer may appear emaciated, it may be walking in circles, it may be unresponsive and unafraid. People may mistake that for it appearing to domesticated. The deer should see you and try to run away. If it doesn’t, that would be considered abnormal and we’d like to know about it,” he said.
They are also asking that you have your deer tested at any of their 20 drop-off locations across the state after they are killed.
Click here to find your nearest test site. – CWD Drop-Off Locations
Mississippi’s first ever case of CWD was confirmed in Issaquena back in February.
