Testing finds no cases of CWD in elk

Featured photo courtesy of Nebraska Game and Parks

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a disease that effects the brain of ruminant game species specifically, elk, deer and moose. 

CWD attacks the nervous system and lymphoid tissue of the host animal. This is causes strange behaviors from infected animals. 

The disease is slow moving and causes animals to behave erratically and become emaciated. Animals are more likely to die from disease, humans or accidents before showing symptoms of CWD.

Behavioral signs to look out for are walking in set patterns (pacing), nervousness, salivation, listlessness and being isolated from a herd or group. Elk show hyper-excitability as a symptom.

The first case of CWD was found in Colorado in 1967 however, the first case in Nebraska was not discovered until 2000 in Kimball County.  

The direct way that CWD is passed is unknown, but it is thought to be transmitted from animal to animal by saliva, feces and urine. Animals that travel in condensed herds are more likely to have outbreaks of CWD.  

Nebraska Game and Parks has been testing harvested deer and elk for CWD since 1997. Over 55,000 deer have been tested with 815 testing positive. 280 elk have been tested and 14 of them tested positive.  

Elk testing for 2020 was completed during August, this testing found no cases of CWD in the animals that were tested. 

At this time CWD is not thought to be a population decreasing factor for elk or deer populations in Nebraska.

Testing for CWD is done by testing lymph nodes, tonsils or brain of an animals. Because CWD cannot be detected without removal of necessary organs or tissues, there is no way to test living animals. 

Nebraska Game and Parks uses deer check stations, to remove lymph nodes from harvested animals to be tested. With COVID-19 leading to deer check stations moving online, samples will only be taken by hunters who volunteer animals for testing.  

With archery season having already begun and rifle season starting Nov. 14 hunters should be looking out for animals that are emaciated and behaving oddly. 

If a harvested animal is suspected of having CWD. Samples of the lymph nodes, tonsils and brain should be sent to Nebraska Game and Parks. 

Animals with CWD or suspected to have CWD should not be consumed by humans or animals. 

If butchering or processing an animal suspected of CWD, avoid getting brain or spinal tissue near other meat products. Avoid eating the brain and any meat near the spinal cord.  

When handling animals that may have CWD, those harvesting the animals should wear protective gear, especially gloves and masks.

Avoid spreading feces and body fluids of the harvested animal near other animals or meat.

After butchering the animal tools and materials should be washed thoroughly and soaked in a solution of 40% bleach. No organic materials should be left on utensils.

If wanting to keep horns from an infected animals, biologists suggest that the skull cap should be removed with a clean knife. All tissue and organic material needs to be removed from the harvested animal for the safety of the hunter. The skull should be soaked in a mix of bleach and water.