Chronic wasting disease found in Ford County deer: IDNR
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced the presence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in free-ranging deer populations in Ford County.
CWD is a terminal disease that impacts the brains of white-tailed deer. It was first discovered in Northern Illinois near Roscoe in 2002, and has since spread to 21 counties across the area.
In mid-March of this year, a deer was detected in Ford County that exhibited symptoms of CWD. After diagnostic testing, the infection was confirmed. Affected counties now include Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago.
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At dates and times yet to be announced, IDNR wildlife biologists will hold public meetings for landowners, hunters and interested citizens to share management strategies and to answer questions.
The IDNR says their 20-year program is a model for other states, and that Illinois is a national leader in managing and slowing the spread of CWD. These efforts include hunting and testing CWD-infected deer in affected counties, statewide surveillance in unaffected counties and raising awareness of CWD and its potential long-term impact on deer hunting in Illinois.
For more information on CWD management, visit the IDNR website. Other questions regarding CWD detections or the disease itself can be emailed to Chris Jacques, Wildlife Disease Program Manager, at chris.jacques@illinois.gov.
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