CWD Response

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that affects deer, moose, elk, and other members of the deer family. TSEs, also known as prion diseases, are a rare and fatal group of neurodegenerative diseases caused by misfolded proteins known as prions. Some well-known prion diseases include mad cow disease in cattle, scrapie in sheep, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. Unlike conventional infectious diseases caused by bacteria or viruses, prions lack DNA or RNA and are extraordinarily resilient. They can endure extreme temperatures and disinfectants, can persist in the environment for years and have no cure or effective vaccine. CWD manifests as severe weight loss and abnormal behavior, such as coordination problems, drooling, and a distinctive wide stance. Clinical signs typically appear between 18 months and 2 years post-exposure, with infected animals shedding prions from the initial infection until death, which usually occurs within months after clinical signs become evident. CWD has the potential to negatively impact cervid populations nationwide, and our limited understanding of the disease complicates effective management. Experts have long anticipated the probable arrival of CWD in Florida and have developed an aggressive response plan, but future efforts to manage and respond to the disease will depend significantly on public engagement and cooperation. Live deer import to Florida was first prohibited in 2002 as a preliminary effort to prevent CWD introduction. Additionally, in 2021, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) instituted stringent deer carcass import regulations to further reduce Florida’s risk of CWD introduction. Importation of whole carcasses or brains from harvested cervids was, and still is, prohibited. Instead, only de-boned meat; finished taxidermy mounts; clean hides and antlers; and skulls, skull caps, and teeth (if all soft tissue has been removed) are permitted. These regulations aim to minimize the risk of infected tissues entering Florida. 

The FWC has conducted CWD surveillance since 2002, emphasizing early detection as a critical strategy for disease management and control. In 2017, Florida finalized a statewide CWD response plan to prepare for a potential CWD outbreak in the Sunshine State. The plan acknowledges that white-tailed deer are the most sought-after game species in Florida, underscoring the importance of targeted and efficient management strategies. Surveillance can be done through a variety of “sample streams,” as the response team calls them, such as sample donations from hunters, mandatory check station samples, public reports of sick deer, depredation permit holders, and road-kill collected by FWC biologists, officers, and technicians.

Improvements to annual surveillance led to the detection of CWD in Holmes County in June 2023. This discovery triggered the transition to the "response" phase of the CWD response plan. As a part of this phase, the FWC established an enhanced surveillance zone (ESZ) encompassing Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties. During one of the weekends of general gun season, hunters within this zone were required to bring their deer to mandatory check stations where an FWC biologist, with the hunter’s permission, could pull a tissue sample for CWD testing. Most of these hunters were happy to have their deer sampled and tested. Mandatory check stations will not be a part of 2024-25 surveillance efforts, but the FWC is partnering with 56 taxidermists and processors through a statewide incentive program in which they are paid for each head or sample collected for CWD testing. Those hunting in the ESZ are encouraged to take their deer to a participating taxidermist or processor or drop the head off at a publicly accessible drop box. Any hunter-harvested deer that test positive for CWD will not count towards the hunter’s statewide annual bag limit. Additionally, the FWC has established a CWD Management Zone (CWDMZ), which encompasses parts of Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties, and the export of whole carcasses and high-risk parts from this zone is prohibited. 

Education is essential in preventing and managing CWD. Hunters play a crucial role by being vigilant and participating in CWD surveillance. They are encouraged to donate heads or tissue samples from harvested deer, even if the deer appears healthy, and to be aware of the clinical signs of CWD. Landowners or anyone enjoying the outdoors where deer are present can also report suspected cases to the CWD hotline at 866-CWD-WATCH (866-293-9282). 

The FWC has set new sampling quotas in each of Florida’s 67 counties for 2024-25 to closely monitor the detection in Holmes County and to detect another positive case as early as possible should it exist elsewhere in Florida. Current evidence suggests an early detection in Holmes County, which leaves biologists hopeful as response efforts are initiated. James Kelly, the FWC’s CWD Surveillance Coordinator, expressed optimism about Florida’s ability to manage CWD effectively, noting, “Florida’s early detection puts us in a best-case scenario for CWD management, as a smaller outbreak is more realistic to contain. We can remove as many deer as possible from the immediate area of the affected location to keep the prevalence at a low level and contain the spread geographically.” 

Education efforts continue to inform hunters about the importance of testing, particularly in the ESZ. The FWC’s collaboration with processors, hunters, and taxidermists is vital for monitoring and controlling CWD. Ideally, cooperation from landowners in an affected area would allow the FWC to harvest deer and test them for CWD to maintain a low prevalence. Kelly says, “We encourage hunters to understand how CWD manifests in deer, have their deer tested, and remain engaged as we continue to combat and manage this disease in Florida.” A multi-agency approach involving the FWC, US Department of Agriculture, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and other stakeholders supports these efforts through regular meetings and coordinated actions. 

Controlling CWD in Florida requires a comprehensive strategy combining stringent regulations, vigilant surveillance, active hunter participation, and robust inter-agency cooperation. By remaining proactive and maintaining rigorous management practices, Florida aims to contain and ultimately mitigate the impact of CWD on its deer populations and wildlife ecosystems. While hunters are more involved with CWD surveillance, Kelly mentioned the impacts non-hunters would see from CWD’s effect on deer. “White tailed deer are an economically and ecologically important species. Hunters and non-hunters alike are beneficiaries of the white-tailed deer resource. Negative impacts to Florida’s deer population and deer hunting tradition would negatively impact conservation overall and would have negative economic impacts that many non-hunters would experience.” More information about CWD, testing locations, regulations, and monitoring efforts can be found at MyFWC.com/CWD.