By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter

A free-ranging, white-tailed deer tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in San Antonio.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the six-year-old doe was captured in Hollywood Park, near Loop 1604 and Highway 281, in late January as part of an effort to reduce overabundant deer populations.

CWD was detected in the doe through mortality testing.

Dr. J Hunter Reed, TPWD wildlife veterinarian, told the TFB Radio Network there were no visible signs the animal was in the clinical stages of the fatal, neurological deer disease.

As a result of the detection, TPWD will implement disease containment measures in the area and will provide recommendations on mitigating disease transmission in Hollywood Park.

“We propose to establish a surveillance zone using easily discernable boundaries in addition to a containment zone,” Reed said. “As this is an urban deer population with relatively small home ranges, the size of both zones is reduced compared to more rural free-ranging populations.”

TPWD will publish the proposed zones in the Texas Register for public comment, so they may be considered by the commission and potentially implemented at the commission’s August meeting.

CWD surveillance and containment zones are established to detect and manage the spread of the disease.

Hunters who harvest a CWD-susceptible species in a zone are required to bring their animals to a TPWD check station within 48 hours of harvest.

TPWD plans to hold community meetings this summer to discuss the disease mitigation actions, CWD zone establishment and what that means to area residents.

CWD affects members of the deer, or cervid, family including white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk.

It has a long incubation period, meaning an infected animal may have the disease, and spread it, for years before showing any outward symptoms of infection.

Clinical signs of CWD include: progressive weight loss, stumbling or tremors with a lack of coordination, loss of appetite, teeth grinding, abnormal head posture and/or drooping ears and excessive thirst, salivation or urination.

According to TPWD, there have been no known cases where humans have been infected with CWD through consumption of venison, but recent research suggests that route of CWD transmission to humans should not be ruled out.

As a precaution, TPWD recommends hunters test harvested cervid species for CWD and not consume the meat of infected animals.