CWD-positive deer found at Marinette County facility

A white-tailed deer at a Marinette County breeding farm has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

The finding, reported Monday, is the first case of the fatal deer disease in Marinette County.

The diseased animal was a 2-year-old doe at Wild Rivers Whitetails in Goodman. The business has about 320 deer in a 230-acre single-fenced facility, according to DATCP.

It also maintains a nearby fenced area as a shooting preserve.

The CWD-positive deer died during fawning, according to DATCP. The agency said the animal was born on the farm.

The farm has not been enrolled in the state's CWD Herd Status Program since May 2017. It participated in the program from 2002 to 2017.

Animal health officials with DATCP will investigate the diseased deer's history and trace movements of animals onto and off the Marinette County farm in an attempt to determine whether other herds may have been exposed to the CWD-positive deer.

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal, neurological disease of deer, elk, and moose caused by an abnormal, infectious prion, or protein, that affects the animal's brain.

The disease has not been shown to affect human health. However, health officials recommend humans not consume meat from a CWD-positive animal.

The disease was first identified in Colorado in 1967. It has since spread to at least 24 states; it was first documented in Wisconsin in 2002.

Although much is still being learned about its spread, movement of live CWD-positive animals or of carcasses containing the infectious prions are considered the leading means for long-distance distribution of the disease.

Last month DATCP ordered the depopulation of an Iowa County deer farm after it was learned the owners transferred CWD-positive deer to a Waupaca County shooting preserve.

After the deer were exterminated at the Iowa County facility, 21 of 79 (26%) of the animals tested were found to be CWD-positive (24 were not tested due to their young age).

The transferred deer remain the only CWD-positive animals found to date in Waupaca County.

Captive animals at facilities in Manitowoc, Marathon, Oconto and Shawano counties also represent the only CWD-positive findings in those counties.

Wild Rivers Whitetails has been placed under a quarantine; no animals may move in or out of the facility.

The business advertises deer available for paying customers for as much as $15,500. The larger deer are individually priced. No permits or licenses are required. The CWD-positive farm will result in the prohibition of deer baiting and feeding for hunters, wildlife watchers and the rest of the public in Marinette County.

The Department of Natural Resources has yet to issue a statement on when the baiting and feeding ban - required by state law - will begin.

Earlier this year Gov. Scott Walker asked DATCP and DNR to develop tougher rules on deer farms, including enhanced fencing requirements and a prohibition on transfer of deer from CWD-affected counties.

Public hearings have been held on the proposals but any rules changes are at least months away.

State veterinarian retires: Friday was the last day of public service for Paul McGraw, state veterinarian for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

McGraw, 55, worked for the State of Wisconsin for 14 years. including nine as the assistant state veterinarian and the last five as state veterinarian.

Prior to that he was in private practice for 16 years.

Among his responsibilities as state veterinarian was to determine when to condemn a captive facility for various diseases, including deer farms for chronic wasting disease.

McGraw graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

After he leaves state service he plans to pursue a private sector business opportunity in Wisconsin, according to DATCP officials.

Darlene Konkle will serve as the acting state veterinarian.