Third case of deer disease in Lauderdale County

MONTGOMERY — A third case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a hunter-harvested, white-tailed deer has been confirmed in Lauderdale County, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced. The first two cases in Alabama’s deer herd were detected in January 2022.

After the initial CWD-positive deer was detected, Lauderdale and Colbert counties were designated as a CWD Management Zone (CMZ).

Samples were collected from more than 3,500 white-tailed deer harvested statewide with more than 1,100 of those samples collected within the CMZ during the 2022-23 hunting season. Only one positive has been detected this season. The positive sample was submitted by a hunter as part of the department’s  CWD monitoring.

“I would like to thank hunters for their overwhelming support by providing a robust number of samples submitted for CWD testing this season,” said Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “As they have been, in the past few years, hunters will continue to be our most important partners in the management of this disease as we move forward with future deer seasons.

“We also thank the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries for their continued partnership with statewide CWD monitoring. Their assistance testing the samples allows us to better serve our constituents by providing them with timely information on the distribution and extent of CWD in Alabama.”

CWD is a progressive, fatal disease that commonly results in altered behavior. An animal may carry the disease for years without outward indication. In latter stages of the disease, signs may include listlessness, lowering of the head, weight loss, repetitive walking in set patterns and a lack of responsiveness.

It is important that hunters be familiar with Alabama’s CWD regulation and the CWD regulations in other states. To review Alabama’s regulation and the latest information about CWD in the state, visit www.outdooralabama.com/cwd-info.