What to know about chronic wasting disease in Washington

This summer, Washington became the 35th state to confirm the presence of chronic wasting disease (CWD). Four Canadian provinces also have the disease within their borders. Knowing that we have CWD in our state means that some things may change for Washington’s hunters and wildlife lovers. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has made several rule changes to limit the spread of the disease. We understand that there are many questions about those rules and other aspects of having a disease like CWD in the state.

An elk photographed in Wyoming by WDFW’s Dr. Melia DeVivo

What is CWD and how is it transmitted?
CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that infects members of the cervid family — deer, elk, and moose. Studies show that other species outside of cervids do not naturally get CWD. CWD is fatal and there is no vaccine or cure. The only way to confirm the presence of CWD is to test lymph node or brain tissue in cervids. Physical signs of CWD such as emaciation, drooling, drooping ears, and lack of fear of humans, do not show until the end stages of the disease, so animals can spread CWD long before it is apparent they have it. CWD is transmitted between animals through feces, saliva, urine, other bodily fluids, contact with remains of an infected animal, and can be transmitted between does and fawns in utero.

CWD in Washington
WDFW confirmed its’ first case of chronic wasting disease in Washington on Aug. 1, 2024 in north Spokane County. As of Sept. 18, 2024, that remains the state’s only confirmed case. Just across the border in Idaho, a CWD case was confirmed in Bonner County on Aug. 14, 2024. The two states work closely on CWD prevention and surveillance at the shared border.

New and existing CWD rules for WDFW Eastern Region 1 hunters
WDFW established several new rules to manage the spread of CWD that affect both hunters and members of the general public:

• Mandatory submission of samples for testing — Within three days of harvesting a deer, elk, or moose in GMUs 124, 127, and 130, hunters must present WDFW the whole head with at least three inches of neck attached or extracted lymph nodes for CWD testing. To do this, visit a hunter check station, make an appointment at a regional or district WDFW office, drop the head off at a designated head collection location, or remove the lymph nodes yourself and mail them to WDFW. Information on all those methods and locations is on WDFW’s CWD web page. Please do not show up to any WDFW facility without setting up an appointment with staff to collect a sample. Not all WDFW offices are equipped or have staff available to take samples.

A hunter check station from a past year and a CWD head drop-off kiosk

Test results will be emailed to the address associated with the hunter’s WILD ID in four to six weeks and will also be available using the CWD test results lookup tool. If your animal tests positive, WDFW will notify you and help dispose of meat you do not wish to consume. CWD has not been shown to infect people, but research is still ongoing, and it is not known for certain if humans can be infected with this disease. As a precaution, the Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that people do not eat animals that tests positive for CWD or appear to have it.

If your animal tests positive, your tag will be replaced for this year and the same season if the season is still open.

Carcass importation- New language has been added to Washington Administrative Code regulating how you can bring your meat and antlers, hides, and other parts home. These rules apply to deer, elk, and moose harvested or salvaged within the 100 series game management units (GMUs) in WDFW’s Eastern Region 1. To reduce the risk of spreading CWD, only the following items may be imported to Washington and areas outside of 100 series GMUs:

• Meat de-boned where it was harvested and imported as boned-out meat,
• Skulls and antlers (with velvet removed), antlers attached to the skull plate, or upper canine teeth (bugler, whistlers, ivories) from which all soft tissue has been removed,
• Hides or capes without heads attached,
• Tissue imported for use by a diagnostic or research laboratory, and
• Finished taxidermy mounts.

Violation of this rule is a gross misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine or one year in jail (RCW 77.15.290).

While it is discouraged, deer, elk, and moose carcasses that originate in 100 series GMUs may be transported between 100 series GMUs but can’t be transported as whole carcasses outside of 100 series GMUs.

• Mandatory reporting of positive CWD test results from other states — If you are notified by another state or provincial fish and wildlife agency that your harvested animal has tested positive for CWD, you have 24 hours to notify WDFW. Do this by calling 360–902–2515 or emailing CWD@dfw.wa.gov. WDFW will dispose of meat you do not wish to consume.
• Baiting ban — In GMUs 124, 127, and 130, it is now unlawful to hunt deer, elk or moose using any type of bait placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting deer. moose, or elk with the intent to hunt them, or natural or synthetic scents that contain or are derived from cervid urine and glandular extracts.

How to leave evidence of sex on a boned out carcass — Page 88 of the Washington Big Game Regulations has a description of how to do this, but remarks about the head won’t apply:

• Male: Head with antlers or horns attached, or penis or testes, any of which must be naturally attached to at least one quarter of the carcass or to the largest portion of meat.
• Female: The head or udder must be naturally attached to at least one quarter of the carcass or to the largest portion of meat.

Disposing of remains to minimize the spread of CWD
Whenever possible, whether hunting in Eastern or Western Washington, leave as much of the remains of your harvested deer, elk, or moose in the field where it was harvested to avoid moving CWD to areas where it isn’t. If that isn’t an option, WDFW has created a map of landfill and transfer station locations that accept animal remains. Please call ahead to confirm fee amounts and special instructions such as cutting up or bagging remains. Disposing of remains in your household trash is also an option in some counties. Call your solid waste company in advance for confirmation and instructions.

How hunters outside of Eastern Region 1 can help

• Voluntary testing- Anyone in Washington can use the resources listed on WDFW’s CWD web page to have animals tested for the disease. For those not close to a hunter check station or designated collection bin or freezer, either fill out the appointment form to have local staff take a sample or follow the instructions on how to mail in a sample.
• Responsible carcass disposal- When possible, and wherever you hunt in the state, leave as much of the remains of your harvested animal in the field where it was harvested. See “Disposing of carcasses to minimize the spread of CWD” above for more disposal options.
• Be aware of transport restrictions- If you hunt in 100 series GMUs but live outside of that area, see the “New and existing rules for WDFW Region 1 hunters regarding CWD” section above for what parts of your harvested animal can legally be transported.

How can people help who don’t hunt?

• Have salvaged animals tested- If you salvage road killed animals, in GMUs 124, 127, and 130 it is now a requirement to submit to WDFW the whole head with at least three inches of neck attached or extracted lymph nodes for chronic wasting disease sampling within three days of receiving a salvage permit. Information on how to do that is on WDFW’s Salvage roadkill permit page.
• Report sick or dead animals- If you encounter dead deer, elk, or moose, or live ones that appear to be sick, please report them to WDFW.
• Don’t feed wildlife- It is unlawful to feed deer, elk, or moose in GMUs 124, 127, and 130 in Spokane County as feeding draws animals together where they can spread disease to each other. You can read the full text of this new rule on WDFW’s website.

More about CWD and WDFW’s response
While it is unfortunate that chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in Washington, WDFW was not caught off guard. The Department has been proactively preparing for the possibility of finding the disease in Washington and has a Chronic Wasting Disease Management Plan that guides how the Department is moving forward with responding to this confirmation and managing the spread of CWD. There is also extensive CWD information on WDFW’s general CWD web page and the CWD surveillance program page.