A second mule deer buck from Montana’s hunting district 510 was found to be suspect for chronic wasting disease.
This buck was harvested about 3 miles south of Belfry. A second sample from the buck is being tested by the lab at Colorado State University, with results expected next week. This is the second mule deer to be found suspect for CWD within the last week.
On November 7, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) got word that a sample from a buck harvested about 10 miles southeast of Bridger was found to be suspect for CWD. A second sample from the buck is being tested to see if the animal is indeed CWD positive.
In response to the initial detection, FWP director Martha Williams created an incident command team. The incident command team is being led by Barb Beck, FWP Region 5 supervisor.
FWP has notified the hunter who submitted the new suspect sample. Much of the area where the animal was harvested is public land.
CWD is a progressive, fatal disease affecting the central nervous system of mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. It is a slow-moving disease. However, left unmanaged, it could result in long-term population declines within affected herds.
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(Photo source: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks)