Newsroom, November 09, 2025: Minnesota documented nearly 100 cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in 2024, a record high up 33% from prior peaks, with six reported in 2025 so far, mostly in southeastern counties but creeping north.
The fatal prion illness, first spotted in a farmed elk in 2002 and wild deer in 2010, spreads through saliva, urine, and contaminated environments, resisting decay and disinfection. University of Minnesota's Michael Osterholm noted the human transmission risk, though unconfirmed, while a study suggests infected ticks may aid spread via grooming.
As firearm deer season opens amid a rebounding whitetail population after mild winters, the DNR enforces zones with mandatory testing, carcass curbs, and feeding bans to curb expansion, unlike Wisconsin's thousands of annual cases. Hunters face limited drop-off boxes for quick checks.
