Chronic Wasting Disease

1. What is Chronic Wasting Disease (or CWD)?

A. A non-fatal neurological disease affecting only farmed white-tail deer.

B. A fatal disease that affect only deer in southern states.

C. A fatal, neurological disease affecting farmed and wild deer and elk.   

D. A non-fatal liver disease that comes from eating plants near where other animals have secreted.

2. What are the symptoms of this disease?

A. Loss of body condition and behavioral changes?

B. Excessive salivation, depression and eventual death?

C. Increased drinking and urination?

D. All of the above?

3. What causes CWD?

A. Hunting pressure?

B. One theory supports the idea that proteins, called prions, and are resistant to enzymes that eventually cause sponge-like tiny holes in the brain.

C. Sharing the same vegetation with moose.

D. Eating the wrong foods fed to deer by people during the winter months when food is most scarce.

4. How is CWD transmitted?

A. The exact means of transmittal is unclear but it is known to be transmitted directly from one animal to the next and is done more easily when animals group together?

B. By the mating of deer and elk only?

C. By eating grains contaminated with the disease?

D. None of the above?

5. Can humans contract the disease?

A. Yes?

B. No?

C. There is no strong evidence to show that humans can catch the disease but the CDC recommends not eating any animal infected by CWD?

6. Can CWD be transmitted to cattle?

A. Under natural circumstances, there are no known cases?

B. Only if livestock eat the same foods as deer?

C. Yes, it happens all the time and many times the beef we eat is contaminated?

D.  No, laboratory rats have shown that it is completely impossible under natural of controlled circumstances?

7. What can hunters of deer and elk do to be precautious?

A. Hunt only on land that belongs to someone you know who says they have no animals with CWD

B. Be on the look out for deer and elk with symptoms and report any sightings? Check with the state's game department for any warnings?

C. There is no need to take any precautions because CWD cannot affect humans or any other animal?

D. Contact Homeland Security immediately?