WILDLIFE DISEASE - DEER
LESLIE MCFARLANEWILDLIFE DISEASE PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Deer with salmonella infection from Tooele County
STATEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR MULE DEER: Strategy dInvestigate and manage disease outbreaks
that threaten mule deer populations. Adopt a specific management plan for chronic wasting disease.
deer with conjunctivitis (pinkeye) infection Morgan County
DISEASES IN WILDLIFE
AFFECT POPULATION GROWTH and RECRUITMENT
HUMAN HEALTHDOMESTIC
LIVESTOCK CONCERNS
DIFFICULT TO ERADICATE ONCE ESTABLISHED
deer with mange in San Juan County
DISEASE MANAGEMENT
No interventionIntervention to prevent disease occurrenceReduce the frequency or impact of the
diseaseComplete eradication of the disease
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD)
CervidsPrion disease – not
bacteria or virusBSE (mad cow
disease), Scrapie, CJD
Always fatalDiagnosed by
examination of lymph or brain tissue
Not known to affect to domestic livestock or humans
CWD Positive buck killed by a mountain lion on the La Sal Mountains
CWD - TRANSMISSIONbehavior,
saliva, feces, carcasses
contaminated sources in environment infective for years
12-24 months in deer
24-36 months in elk
CWD – CLINICAL SIGNS
CWD - NATIONWIDE
Found in free-ranging cervids in 13 states
CWD UTAH HISTORY First tested in
1998 First positive in
2002 near Vernal Early 2003 on La
Sals Late 2003 near
Ftn. Green First elk 2009 Currently 52
positives
CWD SURVEILLANCE
Positive WMU every yearRotational basis Hunter-harvestTargeted samplesVehicle kill samplesOver 17,000 samples Sampled all WMU’s within the state at least once
CWD Prevalence in breeding age
males (4-6 years of age) is 2-4 x’s higher than in females or young age males
Relationships between density and prevalence (transmission on winter range – spread through migration)
Decreased life expectancy by 2 years
Long-term population effects – decline
CWD positive buck from the La Sal Mtns.
CWD MANAGEMENT
CullingProhibit
feedingProhibit
carcasses
Lower population density
Why is disease management important for deer populations?
Colorado research has shown in two North-central units where trends in adult male mule deer have been monitored since 1996 that CWD prevalence has increased steadily during the last 7 years.
Population managementHerd healthEconomic importance –
food supply Hunter participation
Recreation – opportunityTreatment
THE END……..
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