The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is hosting public meetings throughout northern Illinois to provide information regarding chronic wasting disease (CWD), its effect on free-ranging deer populations, and efforts to manage the disease.
CWD is an always-fatal neurological disease that threatens the long-term health of white-tailed deer in Illinois. First documented in Illinois in 2002 near Roscoe, CWD has been detected in 21 counties across the northern edge and northeastern portions of Illinois and as far south as Kankakee and Livingston counties. Affected counties include Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Most recently, CWD was detected in March in Ford County.
IDNR staff will be available to discuss current strategies and answer questions about the disease. Landowners, hunters, and concerned residents are encouraged to attend. CWD continues to be an important issue in future deer management discussions in Illinois. There will be a 45- to 60-minute presentation and discussion on October 3, 2024, at 6 PM, at the Princeton Chamber of Commerce. The Princeton Chamber of Commerce is located in the Prouty-Zearing Community Building, 435 S. Main Street.
For more information about the meetings or CWD, contact Chris Jacques, IDNR wildlife disease program manager, at [email protected]. Additional information about CWD is available online.