Myth: Deer do not die from CWD.

• Fact: All cases of CWD are fatal. However, it may take almost two years for a deer to start appearing sick and then die from CWD. CWD weakens deer and they become more vulnerable to dying from other causes (disease, vehicles,  predation) before they die from CWD. 

Myth: CWD does not cause declines in deer populations.

• Fact: A population may have increasing prevalence of CWD for years before the population noticeably declines. When enough deer are infected, the productivity of the herd declines.

Myth: You can tell a deer has CWD just by looking at it.

• Fact: CWD symptoms can be similar to those of other deer diseases, therefore it is impossible to diagnose a deer with CWD without sending it for laboratory testing. Deer with CWD can appear healthy for two years or more before showing symptoms. 

Myth: Infectious CWD prions become harmless over time.

• Fact: The infectious prions, which are misfolded proteins, remain viable indefinitely in deer body fluids, soil, water, and even plants. CWD prions cannot be “killed” with cooking, though CWD prions on hard surfaces (e.g. knives and cutting boards) can be deactivated with bleach.

Myth: There is no reason to be concerned about eating venison from a deer infected with CWD

• Fact: CWD, to date, is not known to infect people and research on the topic is ongoing. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people do not eat meat from CWD-positive deer because CWD is similar to other prion diseases that can infect humans.  

Myth: CWD outbreaks occur most often in the fall.

• Fact: Deer can die from CWD at any time of the year. A viral disease called Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) or “Blue tongue” occurs in deer more often in the summer and fall, and is spread by biting flies called midges.

Myth: Managing CWD is a way for states to make money.

• Fact: CWD management is very costly for state wildlife agencies. Unfortunately, it actually diverts agency staff, time, and resources from other wildlife conservation efforts.

Myth: Some deer are resistant to CWD.

• Fact: No deer is “resistant” to CWD. CWD is 100% fatal, though some deer are less susceptible, meaning that they can live longer with disease. But they will eventually succumb to CWD. And while they may live longer, this also allows them to potentially spread it to more deer and more areas.

Myth: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is more problematic than CWD.

• Fact: Both EHD (caused by a virus) and CWD (caused by a prion) are threats to deer populations. However, some deer (especially those in the Southeast US where EHD is endemic) recover from EHD with immunity and herds eventually rebound after an EHD outbreak. CWD is 100% fatal, can cause long-term declines in the deer herd as prevalence increases, and remains in the environment - once it is in an area, its spread can be slowed down but it can’t be eliminated.

Myth: Hunters and hunting seasons can’t help manage CWD.

• Fact: Hunters play a critical role in helping state wildlife agencies protect the deer herd and manage CWD. Buck behaviors (sparring, grooming, interacting with doe groups, scraping, rubbing) and movements (dispersal, excursions, increased home ranges during rut) lead to increased spread and prevalence of CWD. Earlier hunting seasons increase the harvest of bucks, which reduces deer movements and interactions with other deer, and can reduce CWD prevalence. The increased harvest also keeps the deer population in check, which limits the number of infected deer, and so limits CWD’s ability to spread.