North Dakota – The North Dakota Game and Fish Department tested 1,456 animals for chronic wasting disease (CWD) during the 2024 sampling season, confirming 17 positive cases.
Of the confirmed cases, 15 were deer harvested by hunters, and two were clinically confirmed through diagnostic examinations.
The positive cases were spread across several units, including 3A1, 3E1, 3E2, 3F2, 3B2, and 3B3. Notably, CWD had not been detected previously in units 3B2 or 3B3.
The department’s sampling efforts fell short of the 10% goal in the targeted units for CWD surveillance. Data from the 2024 season will be used to inform future CWD management strategies.
CWD is a fatal disease affecting deer, moose, and elk, and its ongoing presence on the landscape poses long-term risks to animal populations. CWD regulations are updated annually by proclamation.
