Louisiana wildlife officials are expanding the area under emergency restrictions due to the detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) ratified a departmental declaration on , broadening the CWD Control Area in east central Louisiana following a confirmed case in Concordia Parish.
The initial detection, confirmed in January by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, involved a 3.5-year-old buck voluntarily submitted for testing by a hunter on the Richard K. Yancey Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This marks the first confirmed CWD case in Concordia Parish.
Understanding Chronic Wasting Disease
CWD is a progressive, fatal neurological disease affecting cervids – animals in the deer family, including white-tailed deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. It’s caused by abnormally shaped proteins called prions, which accumulate in the brain and other tissues, causing irreversible damage. The disease is part of a group of illnesses known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).
Symptoms of CWD include excessive salivation, neurological abnormalities, emaciation, and death. Importantly, CWD prions can persist in the environment for extended periods, potentially spreading the disease to other susceptible animals. The disease is infectious and always fatal, and currently, there is no treatment available.
Expanded Control Area and Restrictions
The newly expanded CWD Control Area now encompasses all of Catahoula and Concordia parishes, as well as portions of Avoyelles, LaSalle, Pointe Coupee, and Rapides parishes. The expansion builds upon an existing control area and aims to limit the further spread of the disease.
Key restrictions within the Control Area include limitations on baiting and feeding deer. The area is divided into an Enhanced Mitigation Zone and a Buffer Zone, each with specific regulations. Baiting and feeding are prohibited within the Enhanced Mitigation Zone. Within the CWD Buffer Zone, baiting is permitted under specific conditions outlined in the emergency declaration. Detailed maps and the full declaration are available on the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) website.
The declaration also includes rules governing the transport of deer carcasses. These rules aim to prevent the movement of potentially infected tissues to areas outside the Control Area. Specific restrictions apply to the export of certain deer parts.
Public Health Considerations
While CWD has not been shown to be transmissible to humans, both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend against consuming deer known to be infected with CWD. Hunters harvesting deer in areas known to harbor CWD are strongly advised to have their animals tested before consumption. The LDWF is offering free CWD testing for hunter-harvested deer.
Louisiana’s CWD History and Ongoing Surveillance
The first CWD-positive deer in Louisiana was detected in . As of , a total of 53 CWD-positive deer have been identified in the state, with cases concentrated in Tensas Parish, and single detections now confirmed in both Catahoula and Concordia parishes.
The LDWF has implemented its CWD Response Plan and is continuing ongoing surveillance efforts in the affected areas. A Notice of Intent (NOI) will be introduced to establish permanent rules for the CWD control area, providing a long-term framework for disease management.
What Hunters and the Public Should Know
The expansion of the CWD Control Area and the associated restrictions are intended to protect Louisiana’s deer population and minimize the risk of further disease spread. Hunters are urged to familiarize themselves with the regulations within the Control Area and to participate in CWD surveillance efforts by submitting deer for testing.
It’s important to remember that CWD is a serious disease with potentially significant ecological consequences. Continued vigilance and adherence to LDWF guidelines are crucial for effective disease management. The LDWF website (https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/cwd) provides comprehensive information on CWD, including control area maps and testing procedures.
The current action does not include a statewide ban on feeding deer.
