DNR: No more deer found with chronic wasting disease in southeastern MN
(KMSP) - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says no additional cases of chronic wasting disease were found in deer in southeastern Minnesota.
Last week, two deer shot near Lanesboro tested positive for chronic wasting disease, a brain disease fatal to deer, elk and moose. CWD is a widespread problem in neighboring Wisconsin, but only three wild deer have been found to be infected in Minnesota since the DNR started testing for the disease.
The DNR says nearly one-third of all deer harvested during southeastern Minnesota’s first firearms deer season and the first three days of the second season were tested for CWD. Aside from the two cases found last week, no additional deer in the sample tested positive for the disease.
CWD is not known to affect human health, but it can greatly reduce deer populations once it is established in an area.