ST. PAUL, Minn. – The state wildlife agency has lifted its ban on the movement of farmed deer into Minnesota. The policy change by Natural Resources Department signals the agency’s recognition that chronic-wasting disease, also known as deer zombie disease, probably has become so entrenched in the state that a ban on shipments from elsewhere won’t make any difference. At the very least, the agency cannot fully determine the risk that Wisconsin and other out-of-state animals pose for Minnesota’s wild and farmed deer population. There are just to many gaps in data on infections and transits in other states. The emergency ban had been issued in October after 387 CWD-positive deer from a Wisconsin farm were shipped to Minnesota and six other states.
