Press Release

DWR Reports 2023–2024 Statewide Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Results

Richmond, VA — The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) reports the results of chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance from the Department’s three CWD Disease Management Areas (DMA) as well as results from across the Commonwealth.

For the 2023 – 2024 hunting season, DMA1 included Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren counties. Since July 2023, samples from 685 deer within DMA1 were tested for CWD. There were 54 white-tailed deer from this area confirmed to be infected with CWD. Frederick County had 40 CWD-positive deer reported, six each from Shenandoah and Clarke counties, and two from Warren County. Currently, no changes to the DMA1 boundaries are expected for the 2024 – 2025 deer hunting season.

DMA2 is currently comprised of Arlington, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, Page, Prince William, and Rappahannock counties. A total of 3160 deer from DMA2 were sampled for CWD over the past year. Nine white-tailed deer from DMA2 were confirmed to be infected with CWD. Two CWD-positive deer each were reported in Culpeper, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Rappahannock counties; and a single CWD-positive deer was reported from Madison County. Currently, no changes to DMA2 boundaries are expected for the 2024–2025 deer hunting season.

For the 2023 – 2024 deer hunting season, DMA3 encompassed Carroll, Floyd, Montgomery, Patrick, and Pulaski counties. DWR sampled 1449 deer for CWD throughout the year. Seven hunter-harvested deer from DMA3 were confirmed to be infected with CWD: four in Floyd County, two in Montgomery County, and one in Carroll County. The deer that tested positive in Carroll County was the first detection in the county.

Changes to DMA3

As a result of positive detections in Carroll, Floyd, and Montgomery counties within 10 miles of county borders, Franklin, Roanoke, and Wythe counties will be added to DMA3 for the 2024 – 2025 deer hunting season. In accordance with the DWR CWD Management Plan and Virginia Administrative Code, regulatory actions, which go into effect immediately, in Franklin, Roanoke, and Wythe counties, include the following:

1. Prohibition on white-tailed deer fawn rehabilitation, in accordance with 4VAC15-90-294.
2. Restricted carcass transport, in accordance with 4VAC15-90-293.
   Whole deer carcasses and any parts containing brain and/or spinal cord tissues originating from Franklin, Roanoke, or Wythe counties may now only be transported to locations within Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Roanoke, and Wythe counties.

Establishment of DMA4

More than 2500 deer were tested for CWD throughout the remainder of the Commonwealth. An additional positive detection was documented in a deer originating in Tazewell County. As a result of this detection, Tazewell, Bland, and Smyth counties will become a new Disease Management Area, DMA4, for the 2024 – 2025 deer hunting season. In accordance with the DWR CWD Management Plan, regulatory actions, which go into effect immediately, in Bland, Smyth, and Tazewell counties include the following:

1. Prohibition on white-tailed deer fawn rehabilitation, in accordance with 4VAC15-90-294.
2. Restricted carcass transport, in accordance with 4VAC15-90-293.
   Whole deer carcasses and any parts containing brain and/or spinal cord tissues originating from Bland, Smyth, or Tazewell counties may only be transported to locations within DMA3 and DMA4, which include Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Roanoke, Smyth, Tazewell, and Wythe counties.

Administrative code section 4VAC15-40-285 prohibits feeding of cervids year-round within twenty-five miles of a CWD detection. Effective immediately, Bedford, Botetourt, Henry, Russell, Smyth, and Washington counties are added to the year-round feeding ban due to the location of the new positive detections within Floyd, Montgomery, and Tazewell counties. The map below highlights all the counties that now have a year-round cervid feeding ban because of CWD detections or due to inclusion in the Elk Management Zone.

The Department sincerely appreciates the assistance of deer hunters in these areas for their willingness to have their deer tested for CWD. Additionally, DWR is grateful for the help of commercial deer processors and taxidermists in the Disease Management Areas who assisted with the Department’s CWD surveillance efforts this past fall.

In addition to sampling in the DMAs, dozens of taxidermists partnered with DWR to enhance CWD surveillance throughout the remainder of Virginia. This partnership proved effective in acquiring over 2,000 samples from across the Commonwealth.

CWD has been detected in 33 US states and four Canadian provinces. In Virginia, a total of 252 deer from 15 counties have tested positive since 2009. This incurable disease, found in deer, elk, and moose in North America, is a slow and progressive neurologic disease that ultimately results in death of the animal. The disease-causing agent is spread through the urine, feces, and saliva of infected animals.

Clinical symptoms of CWD, though they may not appear in animals for sixteen months to two years, include staggering, abnormal posture, lowered head, drooling, confusion, and marked weight loss. These symptoms are rarely seen until the disease is well-established in an area. In Virginia, deer exhibiting clinical symptoms have only been detected in Frederick, Shenandoah, and Culpeper counties. There is currently no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans, pets, or livestock, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise hunters to test all deer harvested from known CWD-positive areas and to not consume any animals that test positive for the disease.

Additional surveillance data, descriptions of regulations pertaining to CWD, maps of DMAs, and more information about CWD can be found on the DWR website.