Deer Tests Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease in Waukesha County

A Waukesha County deer has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources confirmed in a release that this is the first CWD-positive deer in the county.

CWD is a transmissible neurological disease of deer that produces small lesions in brains of infected animals.

“Being the first CWD positive in Waukesha County is noteworthy but not completely unexpected,” said DNR area wildlife supervisor Tim Lizotte in a release. “Given the proximity to a CWD-positive deer 16 miles away in Jefferson County, we knew it was a possibility.

This deer was reported sick-looking to the DNR by a landowner in the Town of Delafield. Wildlife managers responded and collected samples for disease testing.

“Sick deer reporting is the most effective way of detecting disease and removing disease agents from the landscape,” said Lizotte in the release. “We thank the landowner for contacting us. This cooperation is needed to help identify presence of the disease and track prevalence.”

This sampling result does not change established hunting seasons nor does it change the current CWD Management Zone boundary. Baiting and feeding of deer, as well as deer rehabilitation, is already banned in Waukesha County. However the border of Washington County is within a 10-mile radius of this new positive, therefore a baiting and feeding ban will go into effect for Washington County by DNR Secretary’s order prior to the 2013 deer season.

For more information on CWD in Wisconsin, and to view CWD maps, visit dnr.wi.gov and search for “CWD.”