First Phase of CWD Sampling Reveals 23 Percent Prevalence Rate in Focal Area

By Justin Stakes

Jasper, AR -(AmmoLand.com)- The first phase of chronic wasting disease sampling by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission revealed a 23 percent prevalence rate in Newton and Boone counties.

Of 266 randomly collected wild deer, 62 were found to have the fatal disease.

To determine the prevalence of the disease among deer, the AGFC took samples March 14-24 within a 125,000 acre, capsule-shaped area ranging from 5 miles west of Ponca to 5 miles east of Pruitt, and 10 miles across.

Including the sampled area, the AGFC has received results of 82 animals with the disease. A total of 648 wild animals (619 white-tailed deer and 29 elk) have been sampled since laboratory results confirmed the disease Feb. 23, 2016. 79 deer and three elk were found to be positive.

Phase two of the sampling effort will focus on learning the spatial distribution of the disease, and includes statewide collection of sick or dead deer and elk. Two positive cases have been identified from the first 196 samples of this effort. One was a deer in Boone County northeast of Harrison. The deer was …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand