While a lot of things tend to find their way to Florida, there is always a first for everything – even in the Sunshine State. Unfortunately for the state’s whitetail deer population, the latest import has been its first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD).
Having held off from any sign of the deadly disease since the state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) began testing back in 2002, the first confirmed case came last week from Holmes County in the state’s panhandle. A road-killed 4.5-year-old doe was routinely tested and was found to have been infected by the deadly disease.
Having tested nearly 20,000 specimens since establishing their response plan, CWD is something state officials take seriously. As with any positive test result, the findings will be used to inform resource managers for future management strategies.
With the state’s first case of CWD, the response plan is swiftly being implemented to further assess the spread of the disease.
“Working with FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) and our other partners, I’m hopeful that our combined efforts will limit the effects this will have on Florida’s deer population and preserve our exceptional hunting opportunities for future generations statewide,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young.
Florida’s FWC is calling on all those afield to report any suspicious looking deer or those found dead from unknown causes to the nearest FWC office for investigation.
