Chronic wasting disease subject of ODNR open houses in Marion, Upper Sandusky

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife invites the public to attend an open house to learn more about chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease. During the open houses, Division of Wildlife staff will discuss the biology of CWD, test results from the 2023-24 deer hunting season, efforts to slow the spread of the disease and future management plans. A question-and-answer session follows the presentation.

Here's a list of the open houses:

• Marion County: 6:30 p.m., April 23, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Harding Room, 100 Executive Drive, Marion

• Hardin County: 6:30 p.m., April 24, Hardin County Fairgrounds Arts & Crafts Building, 14134 Letson Ave., Kenton

• Allen County: 6:30 p.m. April 25, Johnny Appleseed Park Headquarters, 1682 Slabtown Road, Lima

• Wyandot County: 6:30 p.m., April 26, Wyandot County Fairgrounds dining hall, 10171 OH 53, Upper Sandusky

The disease was first detected in the region during the 2020-21 hunting season in Wyandot County. A disease surveillance area has been established in response to the confirmed cases, and intense monitoring continues in Wyandot, Hardin, Marion and Allen counties.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no strong evidence CWD is transmissible to humans. More information on CWD is available at ohiodnr.gov/cwd.

The Division of Wildlife has conducted routine surveillance for CWD since 2002, with more than 39,000 deer tested. The disease was first discovered in the 1960s in the western U.S.

More information about the disease is available at cwd-info.org.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: ODNR hosting open house on chronic wasting disease in Marion County