Chronic Wasting Disease found in Libby
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News from CSKT Natural Resources Department
FLATHEAD INDIAN RESERVATION — Chronic wasting disease is a disease that attacks the brain and nervous system of infected deer, moose and elk. CWD is thought to be spread directly, through nose-to-nose contact, most commonly via saliva, urine and feces. Researchers also believe the disease may be spread indirectly, via contaminated soil, where the disease is thought to remain for a long period of time.
Currently, CWD has been detected in Carbon, Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips, Valley, Daniels, and Sheridan County in Montana. Lincoln County will also be added to this list, due to the recent detection of CWD in a white-tailed deer doe in Libby. This will be the first time CWD has been detected in the wild, west of the Centennial Divide in Montana.
Currently, there is no known treatment for CWD, which proves to be fatal to an infected animal. There is no evidence CWD can infect humans, but the Center for Disease Control recommend not consuming meat from an animal that tests positive for CWD. They also suggest having your deer, moose and elk tested prior to consumption if you harvested from a known CWD-positive area.
Surveillance on the Flathead Indian Reservation first began in 2004 and continued for several seasons. Samples were collected from a limited number of deer from participating Tribal member hunters and samples were also collected from road-killed deer, with no detected of CWD on the Reservation.
The Tribal Wildlife Management Program plans to begin surveillance efforts again on the FIR due to recent detection in Libby. They are requesting participation from successful deer, elk and moose (both on/off reservation) CS&KT Tribal member hunters. It is very important that hunters bring their harvested animal (head with first and second vertebrae attached) to the Tribal Wildlife Biologists within two days from the time of harvest, otherwise the sample cannot be collected.
Do not attempt to disturb, kill, or shoot an animal that looks sick. Report these animals and their last known location to Tribal Dispatch at 406-675-4700. For more information, contact Dale Becker, Tribal Wildlife Management Program Manager at 406-883-2888, ext. 7278.
(Editor’s note: After receving this press release, on June 14, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reported that a sample from a second white-tailed deer in Libby is suspected positive for chronic wasting disease.)
