The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking public help to monitor and slow the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in local deer populations.
CWD is a disease found in Wisconsin’s white-tailed deer population that affects the animals’ brains.
It can cause deer to act strangely, stumble and lose a lot of weight.
It’s especially a problem because it’s always fatal, which could take a toll on the health of a deer population.
That’s why the DNR is asking Wisconsinites to step up by adopting a self-service kiosk or deer carcass disposal dumpster.
During deer season, hunters can bring deer heads to get tested for CWD at the kiosks.
Then they can dispose of deer carcasses in the dumpsters, instead of letting them decompose in the wild, which is one way CWD spreads.
“Anything that we can do now is really important to do now and get started now, and these are some of those important things, like adopting a kiosk or a dumpster,” says Amanda Kamps, a DNR Wildlife Health Conservation Specialist.
Kamps says people can choose their level of involvement with the project – whether they want to donate the partial cost of a dumpster or collect samples from deer heads at the kiosks.
Either way, she says, it’s a way to play a role in deer management and protect the health of local herds.
