Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
The Upper Peninsula Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force has taken several positive actions – working in concert with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources – since the Oct. 18 confirmation that a 4-year-old doe tested positive for chronic wasting disease in Dickinson County.
The task force includes representatives of U.P. hunting groups, the DNR and Michigan Natural Resources Commissioner J.R. Richardson.
“We convened this task force about three years ago to begin a dialogue with hunters, realizing the possibility and eventual likelihood CWD would find its way to the U.P.,” Richardson said. “Our efforts to discuss potential outcomes and to inform hunters and the public about this fatal deer disease have put us ahead of the game today.”
Since the lone deer tested positive for the disease – the region’s first confirmation – the DNR has set up two surveillance areas around Waucedah Township, where the doe was shot in September on a deer damage control permit.
Hunters are being asked to voluntarily submit deer heads for testing to help define the extent of the disease. No hunting regulation changes are in place.
“We at the DNR have followed up on multiple recommendations of task force members,” said Stacy Welling Haughey, DNR U.P. regional coordinator. “They have also assisted us in funding hunter CWD educational materials, helping to ensure they get distributed across the region, while continuing radio ad coverage begun during bow hunting season.”
The task force has met with representatives or members of the Natural Resources Commission, DNR, Michigan Farm Bureau, U.S. Forest Service and commercial forest landowners.
“We’re all going to have to work together as we go forward in the fight against CWD spreading across the U.P.,” Richardson said.
For more information, visit michigan.gov/cwd.
The Michigan DNR will test, at no charge to the hunter, deer heads for chronic wasting disease. Results are available online within 14 days. For locations of deer check stations and drop boxes, visit michigan.gov/deercheck.
