DNR Reports 6th Case of CWD in Preston Area

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reporting that lab tests have confirmed another case of Chronic Wasting Disease in southeastern Minnesota’s wild deer herd.

It was among the deer harvested during a special 16-day deer hunt in southeastern Minnesota ended on Sunday. The special hunt was ordered as part of the state’s effort to curb the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease and determine the prevalence of CWD in the wild herd after two deer shot near Preston during last fall’s regular hunting season tested positive for the fatal brain disorder. Officials say a total of six infected deer have been found in the Preston area, but officials also note that test results are still pending on over 100 tissue samples from the special hunt.

873 deer were harvested during the special hunt and 600 were adult specimens that were submitted for CWD testing. Of the six wild deer that tested positive for the disease, none were behaving abnormally. Officials say that, and the concentrated geographic location of the case, could be an indication the infection is recent.

The DNR has issued 300 shooting permits to landowners in the so-called CWD hot zone. The permits allow those landowners to remove deer from their property through February 12th.

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