An incredibly unique disease has been spreading particularly amongst mule deer in Montana.
Marc Kloker the Communication and Education Program Manager for Fish Wildlife and Parks explains the disease.
“CWD is different than most diseases. The vector is different than most diseases. Most diseases are caused by a virus, a bacteria, or a fungus. This is actually caused by a miss folded protein, and I can’t even fully explain exactly how this works, but basically this protein gets ingested in the body somehow, and it starts reacting with other proteins that then miss fold. Basically, something in their DNA creates a different structure than what is supposed to be there. It concentrates in their nervous system so through their spinal cord and eventually into the brain, and it is 100 percent fatal.” -Marc Kloker
CWD was first detected in Montana in 2017, since then the cases have increased significantly.
“Particularly our Northeast Montana hunting districts like let’s say again north of Highway 2 from Havre all the way to North Dakota we’ve seen the prevalence increase from probably less than one percent when we first detected it and started testing to upwards of 10 percent now.” -Marc Kloker
Marc continues to explain one of the best ways for hunters to prevent CWD.
“So right now, it’s leave your spinal column and those extra carcass parts at the kill sight, or once you’re done butchering it take it to a class two land fill, which is basically your standard landfill site.” –Marc Kloker
