MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Natural Resources Department urged deer hunters to test their kills for the highly contagious chronic brain wasting disease that is decimating herds both wild and domestic. What to do: Submit samples from at-home lymph node kits and drop them off at self-serve kiosks. Alternative: Drop off deer heads at testing stations. CWD, also called “deer zombie disease,” is not transferable to humans, but the state needs to track its spread to create policies to minimize deer-to-deer contagion. DNR program specialist Jeff Pritzl said the goal of testing is to protect deer hunting into the future.
Verbatim
Pritzl: “What is the deer hunting experience going to be for the next generation, and what that means as far as knowing what to do now or being willing to take the steps to give the next generation of deer hunters to have the best chance to have the quality experience we have all had for decades.”