Joplin’s Deer Hunt Can’t Stop CWD—Prions Spread Through Soil

Joplin’s urban hunting ordinance, passed in June 2025, claims that thinning the herd will help stop the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). But that premise falls apart under scientific scrutiny.  CWD is caused by prions misfolded proteins that are not only resistant to heat and sterilization, but also capable of binding to soil and remaining infectious for years. These prions don’t vanish when a deer is removed. They persist in the environment, especially in wooded corridors and feeding zones.

“Synthetic visual of deer behavior and soil contamination—used for educational purposes in CWD advocacy.”
CWD is in soil and plants. 


“Prions most likely enter soil via excretion or from the carcasses of infected animals… interactions with clay minerals do little to reduce prion potency.” — Johnson et al., University of Wisconsin–Madison

Unless the city plans to excavate every wooded acre and incinerate the topsoil at 900°F, thinning the herd won’t stop the spread. It might reduce visible deer, but it does nothing to eliminate the prions already embedded in the landscape.

“CWD prions remain infectious even after thorough cooking at standard home temperatures.” — Missouri Department of Conservation

And because infected deer can appear healthy for months or years, hunters may unknowingly harvest and consume contaminated meat especially in a city where CWD testing is not required before consumption.

📎 Joplin Urban Hunting Registration & Rules

Thinning the herd is not a cure. It’s a cosmetic fix that ignores the biological reality of prion transmission. The ordinance doesn’t stop CWD it sidesteps it. 

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