'Chronic Wasting Disease' in Deer Subject of IDNR Meetings in Northern Illinois
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal disease that impacts the central nervous system in deer.
It has been detected in several counties across northern Illinois, including in Kane County.
Landowners, hunters and concerned citizens are invited to attend a series of informational meetings about CWD and its threat on the white-tailed deer population.
The public meetings, hosted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), will address CWD's effect on future deer populations and IDNR's efforts to control the disease. IDNR staff also will be available to answer questions.
This deadly neurological disease threatens the long-term health of white-tailed deer in Illinois. First documented in Illinois in 2002 near Roscoe, CWD has been detected in 19 counties across the northern edge and northeastern portions of Illinois, as far south as Kankakee and Livingston counties. Affected counties include Boone, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago.
Unless otherwise noted, meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. with a 45-minute presentation and discussion to follow:
Monday, Sept. 12, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, 7071 Riverview Road, Thomson
Tuesday, Sept. 13, Pontiac Township High School, 1100 E. Indiana Ave., Pontiac
Monday, Sept. 19, Starved Rock State Park Visitors Center, 2668 E. 873 Road, Oglesby
Wednesday, Sept. 21, Des Plaines Conservation Area, 30550 S. Boathouse Road, Wilmington
Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m., Stockton Township Library, 140 W. Benton Ave., Stockton
For more information about the meetings or about CWD, contact Chris Jacques, wildlife disease program manager at 773-636-0819 or by email at chris.jacques@illinois.gov.
SOURCE: IDNR media release
