Chronic wasting disease spreads to SE Minnesota deer population
A deer harvested near Wabasha in southeastern Minnesota has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), prompting the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to place the surrounding area under surveillance. The DNR's response plan includes three years of mandatory testing to determine the potential prevalence of the disease. Hunters are required to have their deer tested for CWD during opening weekend of firearms season. Since 2002, the DNR has tested over 130,000 deer, with 236 testing positive for CWD, mostly in southeastern Minnesota.