CWD is a contagious and always-fatal neurological disease affecting deer and other cervids. It belongs to a family of illnesses known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which also includes mad cow disease in cattle. There is no vaccine or treatment, and the disease spreads through bodily fluids and contaminated environments.

The new detections mark a significant expansion of the disease’s known range in Georgia. Wildlife officials are now asking hunters to help track the spread by submitting harvested deer for testing. Testing is free and available through the Department of Natural Resources.

“Hunters are our first line of defense in monitoring CWD,” a DNR spokesperson said. “The more samples we collect, the better we can understand where the disease is and how it’s moving.”

CWD was first detected in Georgia in 2021 and has since been confirmed in several counties. The addition of Coffee and Cook counties to the management area means hunters there will face new regulations, including mandatory testing requirements and restrictions on transporting deer carcasses across county lines. The DNR has not yet released the full details of those rules, but similar measures in other management areas have included bans on baiting and feeding deer to reduce the potential for disease transmission.

For local hunters and landowners, the news raises concerns about the health of the deer population and the future of hunting traditions in the region. Coffee County is known for its strong hunting culture, and deer hunting contributes significantly to the local economy.

“This is a serious threat to our wildlife heritage,” said a local hunter who asked not to be named. “We need to do everything we can to slow it down.”

Conservation groups have also weighed in, urging the state to invest more in testing and public education. “CWD is a slow-moving crisis, but it’s a crisis nonetheless,” said a representative from the Georgia Wildlife Federation. “We need robust funding for surveillance and research to protect our deer herds for future generations.”

There is no known cure for CWD, and it can take years for symptoms to appear. Infected deer may show signs such as drastic weight loss, stumbling, lack of coordination, and drooling. The disease is not known to infect humans, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against eating meat from infected animals.

The DNR encourages anyone who sees a deer exhibiting symptoms of CWD to report it to the agency. Hunters can find more information on testing and management area regulations at georgiawildlife.com/cwd.