NCWRC is confirming a case of Chronic Wasting Disease in Edgecombe County.
The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed the initial positive test result, announced by the agency November 4, of a male white-tailed deer harvested by a hunter near the Pitt-Martin County line.
No changes to deer hunting regulations will be implemented this year for the remainder of the 2025-26 deer hunting season in Edgecombe and surrounding counties. The Commission will follow the CWD Response Plan and will continue to receive test results from thousands of additional deer across the state that are being tested for CWD, with complete results expected by March of 2026. Any potential changes to deer hunting regulations would go into effect for the 2026-27 deer hunting season.
Commission staff will continue efforts to best address the disease, including in this new area. “Our goal is to manage the impacts of disease appropriately in our deer populations while keeping deer hunters and outdoor recreators satisfied with the opportunities available in Edgecombe and surrounding counties.” said Wildlife Health Biologist Miranda Turner. Commission staff are taking steps to increase CWD testing of deer from Edgecombe and surrounding counties, by enlisting the help of additional Cervid Health Cooperators and by providing additional freezers for drop-off testing.
Current testing locations can be viewed at Get My Deer Tested | NC Wildlife.