First Case of Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Texas Roadkill
The first recorded case of Chronic Wasting Disease in Texas was back in 2012, but the numbers continue to grow. While this primarily affected hunters - elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and moose - the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife issued a press release on Wednesday, January 10 about the first case of Chronic Wasting Disease found in Texas roadkill.
According to the release, a roadkill white-tailed deer that was collected by Texas Parks and Wildlife was tested positive for CWD. Officials say the infected roadkill was found in the Panhandle, "along the border between the current CWD Containment Zone and Surveillance Zone". They also said they are looking into potentially expanding the containment zone, but haven't confirmed it yet.
CWD is defined by TPWD as a neurological disease, which is impossible to eradicate once established in a regional population. It could drastically decrease the amount of wildlife in a given area, which would affect hunting in a huge way. TPWD says Texas hunting is a "$2.2 billion economic engine [that] supports many rural towns across the state".
There are relatively new hunting regulations regarding CWD in Texas that you can find on their government website.