The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is asking state deer hunters for assistance in surveillance for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in connection with a deer at a captive deer farm which tested positive for the disease in Jeff Davis Parish on Nov. 7.

The positive test was announced by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), which oversees and manages Louisiana’s captive deer program and the facilities that hold captive deer.

The farm, which is a participant in the USDA CWD Voluntary Herd Certification Program administered by LDAF, has been quarantined. Movement of live deer or deer products into or out of the facility is prohibited at this time under the quarantine issued by LDAF.  Additional surveillance within the facility is under the direction of LDAF.

In addition to Jeff Davis Parish, LDWF is increasing surveillance in 10 other Louisiana parishes, including Calcasieu, DeSoto, Bossier, Ouachita, Catahoula, Concordia, St. Landry, Pointe Coupee, Iberia and Tangipahoa parishes. Deer from the Jeff Davis deer farm have been traced to captive deer facilities in those parishes. At this time, LDAF has not confirmed the detection of CWD outside of the facility in Jeff Davis Parish, the increased surveillance is a proactive measure to monitor the health of the wild population.

Deer hunters are encouraged to assist in surveillance by submitting samples. A deer head with 4-5 inches of neck is needed for diagnostic testing. The LDWF Field Office located at 1025 Tom Watson Road, Lake Charles, LA 70615, is the closest option for submitting samples for Jeff Davis and Calcasieu parishes.

Hunters can contact the nearest LDWF Field Office for sample testing information. Contact information and locations is as follows:

CWD surveillance of harvested deer from these areas will be critical in understanding whether or not the native wild herd has been exposed. Early detection is crucial to slowing the spread of the disease. LDWF has conducted statewide surveillance of free-ranging deer since 2002. To date, the only CWD detections in the wild have been collected in Tensas Parish.

CWD is a neurodegenerative disease of white-tailed deer and other members of the family Cervidae. It is caused by a prion, an infectious, misfolded protein particle, and is 100% fatal in affected deer after an indeterminate incubation period. There is no treatment or preventative vaccine for CWD.

CWD-infected deer may exhibit signs of weight loss and emaciation, excessive salivation, frequent drinking and urination, incoordination, circling and lack of fear of people and always results in death of the animal.

Although CWD has not been shown to be contagious to humans, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend against the human consumption of deer known to be infected with CWD. Also, it is recommended that people hunting in areas known to harbor CWD-infected deer have their deer tested for the disease prior to consuming the animals. 

Hunters statewide who also would like to have their harvested deer tested for CWD can contact local LDWF Field Offices. 

Detailed instructions and more information can be found at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/cwd-testing.

For more information on CWD, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/cwd.

For questions or more information, contact the nearest LDWF Field Office.