If you spend any time in the woods, you’ve likely heard the three letters no hunter or deer farmer wants to see: CWD.
CWD, or chronic wasting disease, is a highly contagious and fatal neurological illness that affects deer, elk, moose, and other members of the cervid family. Caused by misfolded proteins called prions, the disease slowly destroys an animal’s brain and nervous system, leading to dramatic weight loss, abnormal behavior, and ultimately death. CWD spreads not only through direct animal contact but also through contaminated soil, water and surfaces — and those infectious prions can linger in the environment for years.
Alabama confirmed its first case of CWD in January 2022 in a white-tailed deer harvested in Lauderdale County. Since then, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has designated a CWD Management Zone in Lauderdale and Colbert Counties, enforcing measures like mandatory testing and a ban on supplemental feeding to help slow the disease’s spread.
By the end of 2024, confirmed CWD cases in the state rose to seven, sparking ongoing concern among hunters, landowners, and wildlife managers.
Here’s the hard truth: There’s no cure or vaccine for CWD, and once it takes hold in a population, there’s no clear way to eliminate it. To complicate matters, there’s no USDA-approved test for live animals — meaning that once a deer shows symptoms, it’s often too late.
So what’s the solution? Increasingly, researchers and geneticists believe the answer lies in selective breeding for genetic resistance. Scientists like Dr. Christopher Seabury of Texas A&M University have identified specific gene variants that reduce CWD susceptibility in deer. These findings point to a hopeful future where deer farmers can breed herds more resistant to the disease, helping protect captive and wild populations.
That’s why legislation like House Bill 509 (HB509) matters. This bill, currently under consideration in the Alabama Legislature, would protect the rights of licensed deer farmers while removing outdated barriers that hinder CWD research and breeding programs. The Department of Conservation’s current approach — mandated testing, restrictions on transfers, and culling of animals without confirmed disease — may do more harm than good. Without live testing, this policy leads to unnecessary destruction of animals, which may be part of the long-term solution.
By supporting HB509, Alabama lawmakers have a chance to back science-based wildlife management, support rural producers, and build a smarter, more resilient strategy for containing CWD.
Our cervid populations – both wild and farm-raised – deserve a better path forward.
Dr. James Kring is a homeschool father, homesteader, farmer, and resident of Tallapoosa County.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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