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Dear editor:
The level of infection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) of our wild Whitetail Deer herd has reached epidemic levels. At the conclusion of the 2018 hunting season, 384 deer tested positive for CWD in Iowa County or 26% of the 1,453 animals tested. However, tests conducted adjacent to Governor Dodge Park were much higher: over 44% of all bucks over 3-years old tested positive for CWD. Even more alarming, almost 15% of the yearling does tested positive for CWD.
CWD has not transferred to other species, including man - yet. Obviously, if CWD infected our beef or dairy herds, our response would be much more immediate and aggressive.
We don't have a rapid test for CWD and the test is conducted post-mortem. The only "tool" we have presently is to reduce the population of Whitetail Deer during our scheduled hunts and currently there isn't much support for that. Iowa County did not support the "Holiday Hunt" in 2018.
So...based on our current trajectory, here is the scenario for the future of Iowa County:
• The number of deer hunters will continue to decrease as will license fee revenue.
• More and more deer hunters will decide not to serve venison and certainly not to their children, even if the carcass tests negative for CWD.
• CWD will continue to increase and despite the epidemic, the deer population will increase dramatically.
• "Sick deer" sightings will be more common and will require a response.
• Crop damage will increase.
• The ethics of donating deer carcasses to food pantries will be debated, even though the carcass has a negative test.
• Deer/car crashes will increase. In 2018, the odds of a deer/car crash in Wisconsin was 1 in 72 - we are the fourth highest in the nation. Motorcycle travel after dark...not a good idea.
• We shall need landfills to safely dispose of deer carcasses.
• WDNR game management personnel will not be fully funded by license fees, ironically at a time when we need their services the most.
What we need to combat this epidemic is better science including a faster test for CWD. But, based upon the history of eliminating chronic livestock diseases, it is not probable that a cure for CWD will be found in foreseeable future. In the interim, we need to objectively and speedily establish the proper population density and procedures to reduce the deer population to that density.
A substantial reduction of deer herd will be both distasteful and contrary to our deer hunt traditions. Many property owners will not participate, and we shall need to give those property owners who do step up the necessary support.
Thank you.
Larry D Nelson
Dodgeville