The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is increasing its efforts to slow the spread of the deadly Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer throughout Missouri by proposing new regulations that would change requirements for transporting deer carcasses and add carcass-disposal requirements for meat processors and taxidermists. If approved, the regulations would become effective February 29, 2020.
A news release from MDC says some of the proposed regulations are similar to longstanding regulations that already place restrictions on the transport of cervid carcasses into Missouri.
CWD is a deadly disease in white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family, called cervids. The disease has no vaccine or cure and eventually kills all deer it infects. The infectious prions that cause CWD are most concentrated in the spines and heads of deer. Moving potentially infected deer carcasses out of the immediate areas where they were harvested and improperly disposing of them can spread the disease.
The proposed regulations would:
· Restrict transportation of whole cervid carcasses into the state;
· Allow for the importation of cervid heads with capes attached into Missouri if they are taken to a licensed taxidermist;
· Within the MDC CWD Management Zone, limit the transportation of whole cervid carcasses out of the county of harvest, except for whole carcasses being transported to a permitted taxidermist or meat processor within 72 hours;
· Within the MDC CWD Management Zone, allow the transportation of “low-risk” carcass parts out of the county of harvest, which includes meat that is cut and wrapped or boned out, quarters without the spinal column attached, antlers, and finished taxidermy products;
· Require meat processors and taxidermists to discard cervid carcass remains in a properly permitted landfill or waste transfer station; and
· Require that meat processors and taxidermists keep records of cervid carcass disposal.
You can learn more at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.