Press Release

Chronic Wasting Disease: Loudoun County Added to Disease Management Area 2

Richmond, VA — The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) would like to remind hunters that Loudoun County has been added to Chronic Wasting Disease Management Area 2 (DMA2) for the 2020-2021 hunting seasons. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an infectious, neurological, fatal disease of deer that is considered one of the greatest threats to the long-term health of Virginia’s deer population. Since 2009, CWD has been detected in 74 deer from Frederick County, 10 deer originating from Shenandoah County, two deer from Clarke County, a single deer harvested in Culpeper County, and one deer from Fauquier County.

Disease Management Areas and the regulations which apply to them are designed to slow the spread of CWD into new areas of Virginia. For the 2020 – 2021 hunting season, DMA1 includes Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren counties. DMA2 includes Culpeper, Fauquier, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, Page, and Rappahannock counties. Restrictions which apply to these DMA counties, including the following:

1. Feeding of deer is prohibited year round.
2. Rehabilitation of fawns is prohibited.
3. Transport of whole deer carcasses and certain parts of carcasses from deer originating in a DMA is restricted. Whole deer carcasses and parts containing brain or spinal tissue (also known as high-risk carcass parts) from deer originating in DMA1 may be transported within DMA1 counties only. Whole deer carcasses and high-risk carcass parts from deer originating in DMA2 may be transported anywhere within both DMA1 and DMA2. No whole deer carcasses or high-risk carcass parts from deer originating in a DMA may be transported to any non-DMA county in Virginia. Whole deer carcasses or deer parts that contain brain and/or spinal tissue may be transported out of a Virginia DMA directly to authorized locations in another state/province (please see that state’s/province’s website for additional details).

Beginning in October, DWR will be conducting CWD sampling throughout DMA1 and DMA2. Due to safety concerns related to COVID-19, there will be no mandatory CWD sampling during the 2020-2021 hunting season. However, hunters that harvest a deer in a DMA are encouraged to voluntarily get their deer tested for CWD. Beginning on September 5th, a voluntary CWD testing site will be available at the Philomont General Store (36550 Jeb Stuart Road, Philomont) for any hunter that successfully harvests a deer in Loudoun County. Starting on October 3rd, DWR will have voluntary testing sites in all DMA counties to service all hunters that harvest deer within a DMA. Please check the DWR CWD website at dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd/ for additional information on how to get your deer tested for CWD.

CWD has been detected in 26 states and four Canadian provinces. The disease is a slowly progressive neurological (brain and nervous system) disease of deer, elk, and moose. The disease ultimately results in the death of all infected animals. There is no evidence that CWD can be naturally transmitted to humans. However, the DWR strongly advises against consuming meat from any deer, elk, or moose known to be infected with CWD or from any game animal that appears ill prior to death. Clinical signs exhibited by CWD-infected deer include, staggering, abnormal posture, lowered head, drooling, confusion, and marked weight loss.

Anyone who sees a sick deer that displays any of the signs described above should contact the DWR Wildlife Conflict Helpline at 1-855-571-9003 with accurate location information. Please do not attempt to disturb or kill the deer before contacting DWR. More information on CWD can be found on the DWR website at dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd/.