Three hunters from Northeastern Oregon illegally brought back to Oregon skulls of two mule deer they had killed in Wyoming, and both animals tested positive for chronic wasting disease on Oct. 24, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said.
The disease, which is invariably fatal to deer and elk, has not been found in animals in Oregon. It has been confirmed in Washington, Idaho and California.
It is illegal to import or possess all or parts of a cervid (deer/elk family) carcass into Oregon from another state or country, except for certain allowed parts, according to ODFW.
Carcasses can still spread the disease when infected animal parts -- such as skulls with brain tissue attached, as was the case with the Wyoming deer -- are not disposed of properly. The pathogen that causes the disease can remain in soil for decades and infect animals. The transport of infected positive animals and their parts from another state is one of the most likely ways the disease will come to Oregon, according to ODFW.
"This incident highlights the importance of following Oregon's parts ban, as well as possible consequences for not doing so," said Corey Crossley, chronic wasting disease surveillance biologist for ODFW. "Hunters are our first and best line of defense against chronic wasting disease. If you are hunting out of state, follow the law, and return with memories, meat and a clean head only."
The three hunters who killed deer in Wyoming returned to Oregon with skulls that contained brain material and meat. Wyoming officials tested other parts of the deer, confirmed chronic wasting disease, and notified the hunters.
The hunters then contacted ODFW officials to properly dispose of the skulls.
The hunters were cited by Oregon State Police for violating the import law, and the confiscated skulls were incinerated.
The following animal parts can be legally brought to Oregon:
* Meat that is cut and wrapped commercially or privately.
* Meat that has been boned out.
* Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.
* Hides and/or capes with no head attached.
* Skull plates with antlers attached that have been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue.
* Entire skulls that have been processed to remove all meat and brain tissue.
* Antlers (including velvet antlers) with no brain tissue attached.
* Upper canine teeth (i.e. buglers, whistlers, ivories).
* Finished taxidermy heads and finished European style skull mounts.
Hunters encouraged to have animals tested
Oregon hunters who have a deer or elk tested for chronic wasting disease by April 1, 2025, will be entered in a drawing to win either a Howa 1500 .223 rifle with mounted Nikko Sterling Gamepro 4-12 by 40 mm scope, or a Sig Sauer Whiskey3 4-12 by 400 mm Quadplex scope.
The Oregon Hunters Association donated the prizes. The winners will be drawn on April 30, 2025. Hunters will get one entry for each legally harvested deer or elk tested. Hunters can get their deer or elk tested by making an appointment at one of 23 ODFW field offices where a biologist can take a sample, or drop off a head in a drop barrel (after hours, especially) at some locations. Hatcheries and ODFW headquarters don't collect samples. A list of offices in Northeastern Oregon:
* Baker City, 2995 Hughes Lane, 541-523-5832.
* Enterprise, 65495 Alder Slope Road, 541-426-3279.
* Canyon City, 305 N. Canyon City Blvd., 541-575-1167.
* La Grande, 107 20th St., 541-963-2138.
* Pendleton, 73471 Mytinger Lane, 541-276-2344.
What is CWD and can humans get it?
Chronic wasting disease affects members of the cervid family such as deer, elk and moose. A protein called a prion causes the always fatal infectious disease. It is spread by nose-to-nose contact between animals and through urine, feces, blood and saliva. The more animals are congregated, the easier it is for CWD to pass from one animal to another, which is why baiting and feeding deer and elk is a risky practice and discouraged to prevent disease spread.
The prions are shed in feces and urine by live, infected animals or in the carcasses of animals that died infected with the disease. Prions also can persist in soil for years, potentially infecting other animals into the future. Many states, including Oregon, ban the import of certain animal parts, such as brain and spinal column, from other states. This regulation limits the chance that infected brain or spinal column will be discarded on the landscape to potentially infect an Oregon animal.
Infected animals can spread the disease for several years before showing symptoms (which include loss of balance, drooling, emaciation or wasting). So, testing apparently healthy deer and elk early in the course of the disease when they are not showing symptoms is the most effective method to catch the disease before an animal has spread it across the landscape and to other animals.
There is no evidence humans can contract CWD from eating or handling meat from an animal infected with the disease. However, humans are susceptible to other similar diseases such as mad cow disease from the cattle form of this prion disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which is a naturally occurring human form of a similar prion disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends caution and provides information on preventive steps hunters can take to be as safe as possible.
For more information on CWD visit myodfw.com/CWD.