The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is inviting residents to participate in public meetings across northern and west-central parts of the state to address chronic wasting disease in deer. Officials plan to provide updates on how the disease is affecting local deer populations, outline its potential impacts, and explain ongoing management and prevention efforts. These sessions are set to take place in various counties during September and October, encouraging hunters, landowners, and concerned citizens to attend, ask questions, and learn about the state’s response to this wildlife health concern. The meetings aim to foster community involvement in managing the disease.
Since its initial 2002 discovery near Roscoe, confirmed cases now cover 25 counties, including Adams, Boone, Cook, and Winnebago. Notably, Adams County marks the first instance outside the endemic area in the north, with cases also surfacing in Marshall, Peoria, and Putnam counties this February. CWD is primarily identified through routine surveillance of deer harvested by hunters or animals showing clinical symptoms. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will hold public meetings at 6 PM, featuring presentations and discussions on controlling the disease’s impact.
For more information about the meetings or about CWD, contact Chris Jacques, wildlife disease program manager, at 773-636-0819 or by email at [email protected].
