Quarantine established for deer disease

With some big game hunting seasons starting and many approaching, the Nevada Department of Wildlife is raising awareness about a quarantine order to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease, a fatal neurologic disease found in the deer family, into Nevada.

This order issued by the Nevada Department of Agriculture’s State Quarantine Officer and Director comes after recent detection in a road-killed deer near Bishop.

So far, disease has not been confirmed in Nevada. However, this is the first time the disease has been detected this close to the state.

“With deer movement occurring between the two states, the Nevada Department of Wildlife is taking extra precautions,” said Nevada Department of Wildlife Health Specialist and Veterinarian Dr. Nate LaHue. “This detection is hundreds of miles away from the nearest known infected herd. Therefore, it was most likely moved by people, either through movement and dumping of carcass parts or through movement of live animals.” 

The disease has now been detected in three of the five states that border Nevada including Idaho, Utah and now California.

To improve surveillance and prevent spread of the disease, the following quarantine measures are now in place under the authority state law.

Effective immediately, all elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose, reindeer, caribou, and fallow deer within Nevada Hunt Units 192-196, 201-208, 211-213, and 291 are under quarantine.

It is now mandatory that anyone who harvests a deer in the zone submits a sample. Sample instructions can be found at www.ndow.org/blog/chronic-wasting-disease/

It is illegal for anyone to knowingly transport or possess the carcass or any part of the carcass of any elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose, reindeer, caribou, or fallow deer harvested in the Nevada TRZ, or another state, territory, or country,

However, it is legal to bring into Nevada or move out of the TRZ the following parts:

• Wrapped meat or quarters, with no part of the spinal column, brain tissue, or head attached. 

• The hide or cape with no part of the spinal column, brain tissue, or head attached.

The clean skull plate with antlers attached and no brain tissue attached.

The antlers with no meat or tissue other than antler velvet attached.

The taxidermy mount with no meat or tissue other than antler velvet (if applicable) attached.

The upper canine teeth including, without limitation, the bugler, whistler, and ivory teeth.

A sample collected within the TRZ for CWD surveillance (separately bagged and including only the obex and lymph nodes) that can be dropped off at any NDOW office.

Disposal requirements: Within the TRZ, the spinal column, brain tissue or head attached must be disposed of in the following manner:

Left at the site of harvest (preferred method).

Disposed of in approved and certified landfill within the TRZ (see list here: https://www.ndow.org/blog/chronic-wasting-disease/).

Surrendered to the NDOW office in Reno or Tonopah or check station within the TRZ for disposal. 

Under no circumstances should prohibited parts be moved out of the TRZ or disposed of on the landscape (other than the location of kill). 

The same transport requirements must be followed when harvesting deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of Nevada until Feb. 1, 2025, or until a written release is issued by the state.

 Quarantine Officer.

Hunters are encouraged to visit ndow.org (https://www.ndow.org/blog/chronic-wasting-disease/) for helpful information on preparing their harvests for transport.o Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should prohibited parts be moved out of the TRZ or disposed of on the landscape (other than the location of kill). 

These same transport requirements must be followed when harvesting any species in the deer family (deer, elk, moose, caribou) outside of Nevada. This quarantine order remains in effect until Feb. 1, 2025, or until a written release is issued by the State Quarantine Officer.

Hunters are encouraged to visit ndow.org (https://www.ndow.org/blog/chronic-wasting-disease/) for helpful information on preparing their harvests for transport.