DNR announces primary results of Southwest Wisconsin CWD, Deer and Predator Study

Last week, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) presented the primary results of the Southwest Wisconsin Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), Deer and Predator Study to the Natural Resources Board (NRB).

The figures from the study indicate that CWD is substantially reducing the annual survival probability of both male and female white-tailed deer. Reduced female survival lowers the growth rate of the population, and when sufficiently suppressed, may result in population decline.

Specifically, results from the study indicate that when the CWD prevalence rates of females surpasses about 29%, deer populations are expected to begin declining.