Michigan wildlife officials say they've detected chronic wasting disease among free-ranging deer in mid-Michigan. Chronic wasting disease is a contagious disease that can decimate deer herds if left unchecked.
“This is the first case of chronic wasting disease to be confirmed in a free-ranging Michigan white-tailed deer,” said Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh in a prepared statement. “While it is a disappointing day for Michigan, the good news is that we are armed with a thoughtfully crafted response plan,”
Plans to address the disease include new rules against feeding deer in Ingham, Clinton, and Shiawassee counties. The state Department of Natural Resources will also issue more deer hunting licenses in order to thin the region's herd, and to assist field researchers who want to find out how far the infections may have spread.