 |
7/1/2006
Division of Wildlife
Chronic Wasting Disease
By the Colorado Division of
Wildlife
Chronic Wasting Disease is
present in some deer in Colorado, primarily in the northeast
and northwest regions. During the 2005 season about 1,400
harvested deer were tested in the Gunnison Basin. None
tested positive for CWD.
Statewide during the 2005 season 11,493 deer, elk and moose
were checked for CWD. A total of 174 animals tested
positive. The Colorado Division of Wildlife has confirmed
the presence of CWD in 56 of the state’s 291 Game Management
Units. Those units are: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 36, 37,
38, 51, 59, 84, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 102,
109, 161, 171, 181, 191, 211, 214, 231, 301, 391, 421, 441,
461, 521, 591, 951. If you see an animal that appears to be
sick, do not shoot it. Determine the location as accurately
as possible and contact a DOW officer as soon as possible.
When you field dress any big game animal, the Colorado
Department of Health offers these recommendations:
• Wear rubber gloves.
• Minimize handling brain and spinal tissue.
• Do not consume brain, spinal chord, eyes, spleen, tonsils,
pancreas or lymph nodes.
• Bone out meat.
• Disinfect knives, saws and other instruments thoroughly
and allow to air dry.
The DOW will test your animal for CWD. The charge is $15. It
takes about two weeks to get results. Heads can be submitted
to any DOW area office during the hunting seasons.
For more information about chronic wasting disease, go to
the DOW web site at
www.wildlife.state.co.us,
click on “Hunting”, and then click on “Big Game.”
|
