CWD: What Thinning the Herd in Joplin MO Doesn’t Fix
When Joplin’s city council approved its urban bow hunting ordinance in June 2025, one of the stated goals was to “reduce the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)” among the local deer population. Council members cited similar programs in Branson, Columbia, and Springfield as successful models. But the science and the field evidence tell a different story. Watercolor image created by Susang6 using AI technology What Is CWD? Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal neurological illness affecting deer, elk, and moose. It’s caused by misfolded proteins called prions , which slowly degrade the brain and body. Symptoms include weight loss, confusion, drooling, and eventual death. There is no cure , and prions can persist in soil and water for years. What Joplin’s Ordinance Claims The city’s urban hunting page states that the ordinance aims to: Minimize deer-vehicle collisions Reduce property damage Reduce the spread of CWD Councilman Mark Farnha...