PABLO, MT – A second incidence of Chronic Wasting Disease is suspected on the Flathead Indian Reservation from a sample test returned Wednesday from a harvested white-tailed deer.
CSKT’s Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation and Conservation staff received the initial positive test results Nov. 12 from the State Laboratory. CSKT’s Wildlife Program sent in the suspected sample Nov. 3rd from a harvested white-tailed deer. The program has been sending in samples weekly. As a matter of protocol, the positive sample is currently being tested at a second facility to confirm a positive incidence of CWD.
However, in part due to a confirmed case of CWD in January, CSKT’s wildlife program has activated initial response measures contained in the Tribes’ protocol from the CWD Surveillance and Management Plan.
“Our goal is to protect the community and prevent further spreading within our Reservation,” said Rich Janssen, Natural Resources Department Head. “Tribal hunters need to be testing their harvests.”
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that effects deer, elk and moose and is spread by animal-to-animal contact, but can also be spread by dumping carcasses in unaffected areas.
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Salish and kootenai Tribes Communications
