First Case of Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in Genesee County

Genesee County just landed on a list we really didn’t want to be on. It is now the 16th spot in Michigan where chronic wasting disease has turned up in the county’s deer herd.

Before we go too far, let’s break down what chronic wasting disease actually is. According to ABC 12's report, CWD is a fatal neurological disease that hits white-tailed deer, elk, and moose. It slowly eats away at the brain and nervous system, leaving the animal skinny, disoriented, and acting totally out of character. Basically, it’s like mad cow disease, but in deer.

That is exactly what happened with a 2.5-year-old doe recently found in Gaines Township. The DNR says she was drinking nonstop and even walked right up to a conservation officer, which is not normal deer behavior. So that was a big red flag. Tests at Michigan State confirmed CWD.

See Also: Who’s Responsible for Removing Dead Deer From Michigan’s Roads?

Once this thing shows up in an area, it is pretty much impossible to get rid of. That is why the DNR leans on hunters and landowners to report deer that look sick.

There is no proof it spreads to people, but still, don't eat a deer that looks off. And if you bag one, do not just dump the carcass out in the woods. The DNR wants them in a landfill or sealed up in the trash so the disease does not spread even more.

The disease has already popped up in plenty of other spots around Michigan, too, including Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw, and Washtenaw counties.