CWD In Alabama

Chronic Wasting Disease First Detected in Alabama in January 2022

A sample collected from a hunter harvested, white-tailed deer in west-central Lauderdale County was confirmed positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in January of 2022. This was the first case of CWD detected in Alabama’s deer herd. 

The sample from the CWD-positive deer was submitted as part of the state’s ongoing CWD surveillance and volunteer testing program. Preliminary tests performed at the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries discovered the non-negative case, which was then confirmed positive by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. 

View Press Release

View Emergency Regulation 

For complete timeline of the CWD Response can be found here.

Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zones 

The CWD Management Zone (CMZ) includes all of Lauderdale and Colbert Counties. Within the CMZ, the High-Risk Zone (HRZ) includes Lauderdale County and the portion of Colbert County with the following boundaries: beginning at the intersection of the Tennessee River and the Alabama/Mississippi State line, south along the Alabama/Mississippi State line to US Hwy. 72; east along US Hwy. 72 to US Hwy. 72 ALT; east along US Hwy. 72 ALT to the Colbert County/Lawrence County line; north along the Colbert County/Lawrence County line to the Tennessee River; west along the Tennessee River ending at the Alabama/Mississippi State line. Within the CMZ, the Buffer Zone (BZ) includes those portions of Colbert County with the following boundaries: beginning at the intersection of the Alabama/Mississippi State line and US Hwy. 72, south along the Alabama/Mississippi State line to the Colbert County/Franklin County line; east along the Colbert County/ Franklin County line to the Colbert County/Lawrence County line; north along the Colbert County/Lawrence County line to US Hwy. 72 ALT; west along US Hwy. 72 ALT to US Hwy. 72; west along US Hwy. 72 ending at the Alabama/Mississippi State line.

Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone Rule

1. Hunters SHALL submit samples for chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing from all deer harvested on any Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Special Opportunity Area (SOA), Community Hunting Area (CHA), State Waterfowl Refuges, or Physically Disabled Hunting Area (PHDA) located within a CWD High Risk Zone (HRZ) or Buffer Zone (BZ) at the WMA Check Station, or Drop-off Sampling freezer locations, or a scheduled DCNR Mobile Sampling location.
2. Hunters SHALL submit samples for CWD testing from all deer harvested within the High Risk Zone (HRZ) of the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone (CMZ) at DCNR mobile sampling locations or Drop-off Sampling freezer locations on scheduled dates announced by press release and posted to the website below. All other days, hunters are encouraged to submit samples for CWD testing. www.outdooralabama.com/CWD-Info
3. Hunters SHALL submit samples for CWD testing from all deer harvested within the Buffer Zone (BZ) of the CMZ at DCNR mobile sampling locations or Drop-off Sampling freezer locations on scheduled dates announced by press release and posted to the website below. All other days, hunters are encouraged to submit samples for CWD testing. www.outdooralabama.com/CWD-Info
4. All deer harvested in the CMZ must be properly recorded and reported through the Game Check System pursuant to Regulation 220-2-.146.
5. (No whole cervid or cervid body parts taken from the HRZ shall be transported outside of the HRZ. This restriction shall not apply to meat of a cervid species that has been completely deboned; cleaned skull plates with attached bare antlers, if no visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present; unattached bare antlers or sheds; raw capes, if no visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present; upper canine teeth, if no root structure or other soft tissue is present; and finished taxidermy products or tanned hides.
6. No whole cervid or cervid body parts taken from the BZ shall be transported outside the CMZ. This restriction shall not apply to meat of a cervid species that has been completely deboned; cleaned skull plates with attached bare antlers, if no visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present; unattached bare antlers or sheds; raw capes, if no visible brain or spinal cord tissue is present; upper canine teeth, if no root structure or other soft tissue is present; and finished taxidermy products or tanned hides.
7. Deer processors or taxidermists shall apply for a DCNR Carcass Disposal Transport permit when transporting outside of the designated zones, as applicable. www.outdooralabama.com/CWD-Info
8. Deer located in a county within a CWD HRZ or BZ shall not be transported (live or dead) out of that county for relocation or rehabilitation.
9. Hunters may find DCNR Best Management Practices for carcass disposal at the following link: www.outdooralabama.com/CWD-Info.
10. There shall be no baiting or supplemental feeding of wildlife within the CMZ. Grain, salt products, minerals, or consumable natural and manufactured products may not be placed or put out for wildlife with the following exceptions: (a) Seed or grain used solely for normal agricultural, forest management, or wildlife food plot production purposes. (b) Feed solely placed inside an active hog trap. (c) Feed for attracting birds and squirrels with common bird and squirrel feeders placed within 100 feet of a residence or occupied building.

Wildlife-Related Diseases

To learn more about Wildlife-related diseases click here.

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