The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) detected chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a hunter-harvested deer in Decatur County, Tennessee.
This was the first positive case for Decatur County.
During deer season, Tennessee state troopers say drivers are more likely to encounter deer on the road.
CWD affects deer, elk and other similar animals in the U.S.. The Centers for Disease Control describes CWD as a prion disease, which makes an animal sick and eventually leads to death.
Decatur County is within the current CWD Management Zone, meaning wildlife feeding and carcass transportation restrictions are in place already, according to the TWRA.
Now, hunters in the county can participate in the Earn-a-Buck Program by submitting antler-less deer for testing.
CWD was first discovered in Arkansas in 2016, and was discovered in Tennessee in 2018. The TWRA is working to stop the spread of the disease within the state.
You can learn more about CWD in Tennessee on the TWRA’s website.