Partnering with Taxidermists for Improved Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance

Abstract

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a neurodegenerative disease of cervids caused by a misfolded protein called a prion. This disease affects captive and free-ranging deer, moose, elk, and reindeer, and has been detected in 26 states. Cervids infected with CWD may be asymptomatic for months or years. In most areas, older male deer have higher prevalence rates. Prior to 2013, CWD surveillance in New York State focused on testing samples of convenience, by collecting deer heads from meat processors. However, this sampling was biased because many of the heads from older male deer were taken to taxidermists to be mounted. In 2013, the Taxidermy Partnership Program (TPP) was created to train taxidermists to collect CWD samples, and to increase the proportion of older male deer submitted for CWD testing. Added benefits include improved communication with taxidermists and increased awareness about CWD. Trained taxidermists were able to successfully collect and submit tissue samples with few errors. Participating taxidermists were paid for viable samples. Currently, there is a stable number of taxidermists that participate each year. This program has proven to be a valuable resource for obtaining high-value CWD samples for the wildlife agency, requiring a minimal amount of funding and time.

Hunter Willingness-to-Pay for Disease Testing: Evidence from Chronic Wasting Disease in White-Tailed Deer

“…Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is one of the most infectious wildlife diseases impacting free-ranging cervids and captive cervid facilities in 26 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, as well as Norway, Finland, Sweden, and South Korea (Ableman et al, 2019). In the U.S., state wildlife agencies are actively involved in controlling CWD in the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations.…”

Hunters’ Willingness to Pay to Avoid Processing Costs Associated with Harvesting Infected Game

“…The emergence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an example of such a disease, as it has led to reluctance to hunt white-tailed deer and other cervids such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), elk (Cervus canadensis), and moose (Alces alces). CWD is a contagious and fatal neurological disease that affects free-ranging cervids (Edmunds et al, 2016) and has been detected in 26 US states, three Canadian provinces, and many other countries around the world, including South Korea, Norway, Finland, and Sweden (Ableman et al, 2019). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends testing harvested deer and advises people not to consume meat from a CWD-positive deer (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).…”