DNR issues temporary ban on transferring farmed deer amid CWD concerns

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a temporary ban on transferring farmed deer within the state amid concerns over chronic wasting disease (CWD) exposure.

According to the DNR, the emergency rule takes effect Tuesday and ends Saturday, July 31.

The exception to the rule is deer being transported to slaughter, the DNR stated.

The rule is in place, the DNR states, "in response to concerning developments following the discovery of CWD in white-tailed deer at a farm in Beltrami County in northern Minnesota."

Last week, the DNR confirmed a total of 13 deer in a herd of 55 tested positive for CWD. Deer remains from the farm were also discovered on adjacent, county-managed land, the DNR reported.

DNR concerns grow following new reports of chronic wasting disease

"This is a serious disease that poses a growing threat to Minnesota’s wild deer, and our actions must reflect that," DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen said in a statement. "The DNR is committed to proactively addressing CWD and doing everything we can to protect Minnesota’s white-tailed deer as part of our natural heritage. The CWD detections at the Beltrami County farm, its connections to other farms in the state and the additional contamination outside of the farm, pose a risk to wild deer that requires emergency action."

Since CWD was first detected in Minnesota in 2002, the DNR states it has tested more than 90,000 wild deer in the state. To date, 115 wild deer have been confirmed positive for CWD in Minnesota.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer species.