Hunters across northern Michigan are being encouraged by the Department of Natural Resources to help reduce and track the spread of bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease (also known as Zombie Deer Disease) by submitting parts of their harvests for testing.
"You can get your deer, pull those lymph nodes out and mail them away," said Chad Stewart, a deer, elk and moose specialist with the Michigan DNR during a recent episode of WCMU Public TV's Ask the DNR. "And the testing and the mailing and the postage are all paid for."
Bovine tuberculosis is particularly dangerous in that it is highly infectious and can spread between multiple types of animals, including humans. While less than 2% of tuberculosis diagnosis' are from the bovine strand, it can still pose a risk.
Since 1975, Bovine Tuberculosis has been found in the following Michigan counties: Alcona, Alpena Antrim, Benzie, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Iosco, Mecosta, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, and Shiawassee. 25 deer across Michigan tested positive in 2023 from those sent in.
Chronic Wasting Disease is not known to spread to humans, however some monkeys have been infected from eating infected animals, which leads to the theory that it could possibly happen in humans. There have been 253 confirmed cases of CWD in Michigan since 2015.
Testing is not mandatory, but encouraged to help with the monitoring of the diseases. For several counties up north, testing is free and requires the head of the deer or the lymph nodes, depending on the location and testing type. A list of drop-off locations can be found on the Michigan DNR website.
