Michigan officials today implemented a ban on all imports of cervidae (deer and elk) from Wisconsin after three of its free ranging, white-tailed deer were recently diagnosed with Chronic Wasting Disease.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a disease of deer and elk that attacks the animals’ nervous systems, causing chronic weight loss that eventually leads to death. It is not known to be contagious to humans, livestock or other animals. Before the Wisconsin discovery, CWD had only been found in limited areas of the Western United States and Canada.

Dr. Joan Arnoldi, Michigan State Veterinarian and Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Animal Industry Division, said the ban was instituted to help ensure that Michigan remains free from CWD and to protect Michigan’s privately-owned cervid industry and wild deer and elk. MDA oversees the licensing, registration and inspection of the state’s approximately 900 cervid operations. The ban will remain in effect until more information is gathered about the scope and range of the disease in Wisconsin, she added.

As an added precaution, Arnoldi said the Department will identify and trace all cervids that have been imported from Wisconsin over the past three years, and conduct CWD surveillance on all death losses from those herds.

Currently, Michigan law prohibits the importation of any deer or elk from a county or adjoining county in any state where CWD has been diagnosed. In addition, cervids brought into Michigan must obtain an entry permit before movement can occur and be accompanied by a health certificate attesting that each animal has not been exposed to CWD. This is the first time Michigan has banned importation of deer and elk from an entire state, but due to shared borders, the unknown extent of the disease, and the need to ensure the continued health of Michigan cervids, the state action was warranted.

MDA, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the state’s deer and elk farmers, has taken several other steps over the past few years to keep CWD out of the state, including:

• Conducting thorough epidemiological investigations from any CWD-implicated source.
• Conducting surveillance of wild white-tailed deer and elk. More than 450 animals have tested negative for CWD to date.
• Promoting CWD awareness among the state’s deer and elk farmers, hunters and public.
• Monitoring privately owned deer and elk through voluntary submissions from these operations.

MDNR Resource Management Deputy George Burgoyne Jr. said the emergence of CWD this close to home requires Michigan to plan for and implement additional surveillance of both wild and privately owned deer and elk.

"We take this situation very seriously, and will act immediately to ensure the future health and safety of Michigan wildlife," Burgoyne said.

The Michigan Deer Elk Farmers Association (MDEFA) is also committed to the state’s continued and enhanced CWD surveillance and testing efforts.

MDEFA President Alex Draper stated: "We have worked very closely with MDA, MDNR, Michigan Farm Bureau and other animal interest groups to develop the statewide Privately Owned Cervidae Producers Marketing Act, and just recently, the Commodities Marketing Committee. The monitoring of CWD, bovine tuberculosis (TB) and other animal diseases is an integral part of our industry. As industry leaders, we have always maintained a proactive stance as evidenced by our support and implementation of the statewide TB testing program – testing 93 percent of all privately owned deer and elk with no TB found. We will work very closely with the state on a CWD monitoring program that will maintain the viability and integrity of our industry."

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