New National Academies report assesses the state of CWD knowledge

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine sheds light on the persistent challenges of managing chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer, elk, and moose populations across the United States. Dr. Tiffany Wolf, from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota, served on the report's authoring committee.

Since it was first detected in Colorado in 1967, CWD has spread to affect free-ranging and captive cervid populations across North America and beyond—including Minnesota, where it was first detected in 2002. This fatal prion disease impacts deer, elk, moose, and reindeer, causing neurological damage, behavioral changes, and ultimately death. The insidious nature of CWD, with its long incubation period and environmental persistence, poses significant challenges for wildlife managers. Without strong management, CWD can lead to population declines, ecosystem disruption, and potential economic impacts related to hunting and wildlife tourism.

At the request of Congress, the report was commissioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey of the Department of the Interior, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture to synthesize the current understanding of CWD and to identify knowledge gaps hindering effective management strategies. Read the full story here.