<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1KRBDz_1GzuMlRq00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1KRBDz_1GzuMlRq00" width="800" height="450" ><p>KALISPELL, Mont. — Hunting season is in full swing across Montana, and wildlife officials in northwest Montana are urging the public to help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease.</p><p>CWD is always fatal for infected deer, elk, and other members of the deer family. It attacks the brain and nervous system and can take up to two years to show symptoms. That means an animal can look healthy while still carrying the disease.</p><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KzXQj0sGuVM?enablejsapi=1&version=3&playerapiid=ytplayer" frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><p>Wildlife officials said hunters play an important role in spotting and reporting sick animals.</p><p>“So, they are kind of our eyes and ears, right? There are a lot of people out right now getting eyes on lots of wildlife, and when they call us and let us know what they’re seeing, that can be really helpful. Again, even if it’s not related to chronic wasting disease, getting all of that information is helpful," said Jennifer Ramsey, wildlife veterinarian at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.</p><p>On the Flathead Reservation, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes adopted a CWD management plan in 2023. Since then, five cases have tested positive.</p><p>Officials said testing harvested deer and elk helps track where the disease is spreading.</p><p>“First and foremost, no matter what, go to the nearest check station and get your animal tested, or sampled to be tested for chronic wasting disease. When you’re there, it’s always a good idea to let the technician know if you’ve seen any type of abnormalities," said Payton Adams, wildlife biologist at CSKT.</p><p>What hunters do with the animal after harvest also matters.</p><p>Montana FWP recommends leaving carcass remains at the harvest site when possible, instead of transporting them to another area. If hunters take remains home or to a meat processor, leftover scraps should be disposed of at a class two landfill.</p><p>“The problem is that could be introducing chronic wasting disease into an area where it’s not already present, so we want to limit that, that human inadvertent movement of this disease onto the landscape by people. So, proper disposal helping to minimize that human contribution to spread," said Ramsey.</p><p>Officials also recommend wearing gloves when field dressing an animal and reporting any wildlife that appears sick or behaves abnormally.</p><p>“My goal, and I think a lot of people’s goal is for there to be plentiful deer to harvest for generations to come. And if we continue taking it very seriously and doing our jobs, I see that happening. I think that could be a real possibility," said Adams.</p></div></body>

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KALISPELL, Mont. — Hunting season is in full swing across Montana, and wildlife officials in northwest Montana are urging the public to help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease. CWD is always fatal for infected deer, elk, and other members of the deer family. It attacks the brain...

Experts share CWD management tips for hunters to help prevent spread

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KALISPELL, Mont. — Hunting season is in full swing across Montana, and wildlife officials in northwest Montana are urging the public to help prevent the sp

Experts share CWD management tips for hunters to help prevent spread

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