The following column by Representative John Persell was published Wednesday, February 13 in the Cass Lake Times:
As we begin the second month of the legislative session, there are a number of concerns that require immediate action. One of the most urgent issues facing our state is the outbreak of chronic wasting disease. This epidemic is a threat to Minnesota’s deer population, public health, traditions, and economy.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a neurological disease that affects deer and elk. It is always fatal, and there is no vaccine or treatment for infected animals. CWD is part of a rare family of diseases caused by misshapen (mutated) proteins called prions. Deer can easily be exposed, often through contact with saliva, feces, or urine of other animals. CWD often originates on commercial deer farms where many animals are kept in close quarters. However, the disease can spread rapidly if introduced into wild deer populations as well.
Most infected animals will not show symptoms for a year or longer after exposure. Therefore, CWD can spread quickly amongst captive deer without any indication, and hunters usually cannot tell if a deer they have taken is healthy or not. Testing is available, but it is expensive and takes two weeks to produce a result. Current tests also cannot be used on live animals.
Since it was first discovered in the 1960s, CWD has spread to 25 states. In Minnesota, the first CWD-positive animal was discovered in 2002. That same year the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) began testing animals kept in deer farms and wild deer. Since then, the DNR has identified eight deer farms and 18 wild deer with the disease. The CWD-positive cases primarily occur in southeast Minnesota. While the percentage of deer that have tested CWD-positive is low, the disease will continue to spread to other areas of Minnesota and infect more deer unless we take urgent action.
The dangers of inaction are clear. In other states, including Wisconsin, CWD is rampant. These areas have experienced a long-term decline in deer population.
CWD also poses a threat to public health. The CDC and other health agencies recommend avoiding meat from infected animals. While there are no reports of CWD spreading to humans, experts have indicated that this is a possibility. Another prion disorder, known as BSE or mad cow disease, was originally believed to be confined to cattle but later spread to humans as well. Research indicates that CWD can cross to some other species.
This has resulted in significant fears for deer hunters and processors. Hunters cannot tell if the meat from their deer is safe to eat or not without an expensive and time-consuming test. Processors worry that infected deer might contaminate their equipment, rendering all the meat they produce unsafe for consumption.
Hunting is an important tradition that has been passed down through generations of Minnesotans. However, fears of contagion are already driving people away. In southeast Minnesota, where many of the cases of CWD were found, the number of hunters has decreased at a higher rate than in other areas of the state. If this trend continues and deer populations decline, this legacy will not be preserved for future generations of Minnesotans.
A decrease in participation would also damage the state economy. Hunters contribute $500 million to our economy each year. Hunting licenses generate crucial revenue that fund fish and wildlife management programs as well as the maintenance of public lands across the state. CWD therefore threatens the support that Minnesota’s hunters and anglers give to our beautiful lakes, forests, and parks.
It is clear that we are not doing enough to control CWD. This disease has been spreading across Minnesota for more than a decade. We must act boldly and urgently to protect our abundant wildlife, our cherished traditions, and the health of our communities. We can do this by ensuring that farmed deer are contained, reducing contact between captive and wild deer, and funding research that will develop a better, more accessible test for CWD. While the dangers posed by CWD are significant, I am confident that we can find solutions as we continue our work at the Legislature on this important issue.