Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in Deer at Beltrami County Farm

A three-year-old white-tailed doe at a Beltrami County farm has been confirmed to have chronic wasting disease.

This 77-head herd was quarantined in October 2020. According to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, The Beltrami County herd owner had purchased 11 animals from a Winona County herd also identified in the investigation so these animals were considered CWD-exposed, which led to the quarantine.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which manages the health of the wild deer population, will conduct precautionary surveillance in the area surrounding the Beltrami County farm to determine if nearby wild deer are infected with CWD. Surveillance will begin with this fall’s hunting season and last a minimum of three consecutive years.

The DNR encourages Beltrami County residents to report observations of sick wild deer by calling their local wildlife office at 218-732-8452. A deer feeding ban will also be put in place in Beltrami and surrounding counties.