The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be in Peosta on March 25 to discuss the local results of the chronic wasting disease (CWD) monitoring effort and available options going forward.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., March 25 at the Peosta Community Center, 7896 Burds Road, in Peosta. The meeting is open to the public.
“This is an opportunity to discuss the disease and the issues around it directly with our hunters, where we go from here, and how we work together to slow the spread,” said Terry Haindfield, wildlife biologist for the Iowa DNR who is leading the effort to combat CWD.
A tissue sample collected in December from a road killed deer 2-1/2 miles southeast of Dubuque tested positive for the always fatal disease. It was the first deer in Dubuque County to test positive. In addition to Dubuque County, wild deer have tested positive for CWD in Allamakee, Clayton and Davis counties.
CWD is a neurological disease belonging to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases. It attacks the brain of infected deer causing the animal to lose weight, display abnormal behavior, lose body functions and die. It is always fatal to the infected animal.
The Iowa DNR has more information about CWD and other infectious disease online at www.iowadnr.gov/cwd.
Any person attending the public meeting and has special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments should contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.