Yellowstone National Park has reported its first case of Chronic Wasting Disease in a male deer, found last month. The disease is often referred to as “zombie deer disease” due to the physiological and behavioral changes it causes, eventually leading to death.
The infected deer had been part of a population dynamics study before being discovered dead in mid-October near Yellowstone Lake. Chronic Wasting Disease is highly contagious, caused by a malformed protein called a prion, and there is currently no cure or treatment.
The potential impact on humans is causing concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is currently no evidence that the disease can infect humans. This reassurance has done little to allay concerns, with the disease identified in 31 states, as well as in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Canada, and South Korea, amongst deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer, and moose.
The National Park Service has increased collaboration with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to manage the disease. However, there is concern about the effectiveness of measures since there is no effective strategy to eradicate the disease. The park service is also upping its monitoring of deer, moose and elk in Yellowstone and the investigating of discovered carcasses.
Approximately 10 to 15 percent of mule deer near Cody, which migrate into the southeast portion of Yellowstone during the summer, are believed to have the disease. The disease has spread widely across Wyoming since the 1980s.
With no known cure, the potential for Chronic Wasting Disease to spread is significant and its impact is devastating. It leads to emaciation, behavioral changes and death. The discovery of the first case in Yellowstone is highly concerning given the significant numbers of tourists that flock to the park and the potential for the disease to impact already threatened wild deer populations.
