MDC proposes new efforts to limit spread of CWD

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is increasing its efforts to slow the spread of the deadly deer disease called Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) throughout Missouri by proposing new regulations that would change requirements for transporting deer carcasses and add carcass-disposal requirements for meat processors and taxidermists. If approved, the regulations would become effective Feb. 29, 2020.

Some of the proposed regulations are similar to longstanding regulations that already place restrictions on the transport of cervid carcasses into Missouri. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/cwd under “Feeding Ban and Other Regulations.”

CWD is a deadly disease in white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family, called cervids. The disease has no vaccine or cure and eventually kills all deer it infects. The infectious prions that cause CWD are most concentrated in the spines and heads of deer. Moving potentially infected deer carcasses out of the immediate areas where they were harvested and improperly disposing of them can spread the disease.

MDC has created a CWD Management Zone around where confirmed cases of the disease have been found to help track and limit the spread of CWD. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/cwd under “CWD in Missouri.”

The proposed regulations would:

Restrict transportation of whole cervid carcasses into the state;

Allow for the importation of cervid heads with capes attached into Missouri if they are taken to a licensed taxidermist;

Within the MDC CWD Management Zone, limit the transportation of whole cervid carcasses out of the county of harvest, except for whole carcasses being transported to a permitted taxidermist or meat processor within 48 hours;

Within the MDC CWD Management Zone, allow the transportation of “low-risk” carcass parts out of the county of harvest, which includes meat that is cut and wrapped or boned out, quarters without the spinal column attached, antlers, and finished taxidermy products;

Require meat processors and taxidermists to discard cervid carcass remains in a properly permitted landfill or waste transfer station; and

Require that meat processors and taxidermists keep records of cervid carcass disposal.

MDC has tested more than 130,000 deer for the disease since the first cases were detected in 2010 and 2011 in two northeast Missouri counties. Most of those deer tested were harvested by hunters. Since then, the number of CWD detections has increased to 116 and the disease has been found in 16 counties in the northeast, southwest, southeast, central, west-central, and eastern areas of the state – often many miles from any other known cases.

“Our research shows it is highly unlikely that the spread of CWD to some new areas of the state is from the natural movement of deer,” Sumners said. “We have found some new cases of CWD more than 60 miles from any other known cases. While we do not know specifically how they got there, we do know that deer rarely travel that far on their own. That leaves people as the most likely way the disease is spreading that far.”

According to MDC, most deer hunters would not be affected by the proposed regulations and most meat processors and taxidermists are already properly disposing of deer carcasses.

The proposed regulation changes were given initial approval by the Missouri Conservation Commission at its May 23 meeting.

As part of its rulemaking process, MDC is asking for public comment on the proposed regulations through early August at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49 under “3 CSR 10-4.135 Transportation,” “3 CSR 10-10.744 Commercial Deer Processing: Permit, Privileges, Requirements,” and “3 CSR 10-10.767 Taxidermy; Tanning: Permit, Privileges, Requirements.”

The Commission will consider input received and make a final decision to move forward, modify, or withdraw the proposed regulations during its Aug. 23 meeting. If approved, the anticipated effective date of the regulations would be Feb. 29, 2020.

For more information on CWD, go online to mdc.mo.gov/cwd.