Arizona’s Vigilant Efforts to Prevent Chronic Wasting Disease in Wildlife
In an ongoing effort to protect its wildlife from chronic wasting disease (CWD), the Arizona Game and Fish Department has been requesting hunters to submit elk and deer heads for testing since 1998. CWD is known to cause proteins in the brains of animals to deform into ‘prions,’ which results in the death of brain cells.
This highly infectious disease poses a significant threat as it spreads through direct contact such as nose-to-nose interaction, grooming, and mother-to-offspring transmission. Additionally, animals can contract the disease by ingesting contaminated soil or vegetation.
Currently, there is no cure or vaccine for CWD, and the disease is invariably fatal. Symptoms, which include drastic weight loss, impaired coordination, and confusion, may take months to appear in infected animals.
Due to the absence of effective live testing methods, diagnosis necessitates the euthanasia of the animal, followed by an examination of its lymph nodes or brain stem tissue.
While CWD has been detected in 37 states, including neighboring New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado, Arizona remains free from this disease. Natural barriers such as mountains and rivers have thus far shielded the state’s elk and deer populations, though areas like the Kaibab Plateau and the state’s eastern and southern borders remain at higher risk.
Hunters are urged to contribute to this preventive effort by delivering harvested animal heads to Arizona Game and Fish Department offices. Moreover, it’s crucial to report any wildlife exhibiting symptoms indicative of CWD.
Adhering to carcass disposal regulations and avoiding the import of unprocessed elk or deer meat from other states are critical practices to ensure CWD does not infiltrate Arizona.
This segment of Earth Notes is partially funded by Pink Jeep Tours, authored by Diane Hope, and produced by KNAU alongside the Sustainable Communities Program at Northern Arizona University.
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