CWD Risks from Field-Dressed Deer That Look Healthy
Even “healthy-looking” deer can be infected with CWD and carry prions. Here’s how field dressing spreads CWD across neighborhoods, soil, and scavengers. At first glance, a deer may appear healthy alert posture, glossy coat, no visible symptoms. But beneath that surface, it could be carrying Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) , a fatal neurological illness caused by prions: misfolded proteins that resist breakdown and remain infectious in the environment for years. This article explores what happens when a field-dressed deer is left exposed on city land, or private property that allowed bowhunters. How that decision can trigger a chain reaction of contamination, scavenger behavior, and predator attraction. Readers will learn how prions spread, which species act as unexpected vectors, and why containment not just herd thinning is essential for responsible wildlife management in urban zones like Joplin, Missouri. Prion Contamination: What Happens When a Carcass Is Left B...