FWC Issues Alert After Chronic Wasting Disease Found In Alabama Deer

January 11, 2022

For the first time, chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected in a state that borders Florida, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is sounding a precautionary alarm.

CWD was recently detected in a hunter-harvested deer in northwestern Alabama, making it the 28th state where CWD has been documented. CWD, which is a brain and central nervous system disease that is always fatal to members of the deer family, has not been detected in Florida to date.

The FWC asks people who plan to hunt deer or members of the deer family outside of Florida to be vigilant in helping reduce the risk of CWD spreading into Florida. FWC said an important step is to be aware of and follow the rules that prohibit importing or possessing whole carcasses or high-risk parts of all species of the deer family originating from any place outside of Florida.

Under the new rules, which took effect July 2021, people may only import into Florida:

  • De-boned meat
  • Finished taxidermy mounts
  • Clean hides and antlers
  • Skulls, skull caps and teeth if all soft tissue has been removed

The only exception to this rule is deer harvested from a property in Georgia or Alabama that is bisected by the Florida state line and under the same ownership may be imported into Florida.

Comments

3 Responses to “FWC Issues Alert After Chronic Wasting Disease Found In Alabama Deer”

  1. Proper Disposal on January 12th, 2022 9:10 am

    1. Double bag remains and dispose of in household garbage.
    2. Double bag and take to a Class 1 landfill. (Lined)
    3. Commercial incineration.

    Take responsibility for your kill.

  2. Hunter on January 11th, 2022 8:13 pm

    The alabama game commission will tell you to dump the carcus in the woods to feed other wild life. And there is no deer dump that I know of

  3. William in Beulah on January 11th, 2022 12:32 pm

    Unfortunately, to many careless hunters continue to dump carcasses on the roadside instead of properly disposing of their waste. This will continue the spread of this horrible disease and insures that our wildlife will continue to decline because of lazy people or the ignorant who refuse to believe that these diseases exist.