GLADWIN COUNTY — Gladwin County has recorded its first case of chronic wasting disease in a wild deer, making it the 18th county in Michigan to identify the fatal neurological condition.
A hunter-harvested deer from Clement Township recently tested positive for the disease.
Chronic wasting disease affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the positive test, which is now awaiting secondary confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. The disease was previously detected in Midland County to the south and Ogemaw County to the north of Gladwin.
Brent Rudolph, DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist, said the finding aligns with recent trends in the state. “The detection of chronic wasting disease in Gladwin County is consistent with the slow, incremental spread we have observed across Michigan,” Rudolph said. “New positive results can be alarming for nearby communities and frustrating as the total count continues to grow, but these detections are critical to our understanding of the scope of chronic wasting disease in our state. We greatly appreciate hunters’ continued persistence in submitting samples for testing.”
To date, there are no reported cases of the disease infecting humans. Despite this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that hunters do not consume meat from infected animals. This recommendation applies to both human consumption and domestic animals.
The DNR suggests that hunters wear rubber gloves while field-dressing or processing deer to minimize risk. Contact with the brain and spinal tissue of the animal should be limited. After handling any parts of a carcass, hunters should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Proper disposal of carcasses is necessary to prevent environmental contamination, as studies show the disease can survive on the landscape for years. Deer harvested from areas with known infections should never be left on the landscape. Instead, hunters should take carcasses and parts directly to a landfill or use regular bagged trash pickup.
Statewide testing has identified 376 positive wild deer out of approximately 148,800 animals tested since surveillance began. While the DNR started monitoring wild deer in 2002, the disease was not identified in Michigan until 2015. Detection efforts include testing hunter-harvested deer, responding to reports of sick animals and screening donated deer.
The state transitioned to a rotational approach for surveillance in 2021 to establish a baseline for every county. Gladwin County previously underwent focused surveillance in 2021 as part of this program. This strategy is intended to identify the disease early, which allows for more effective management of local populations.
Free self-sample testing kits are available for hunters in all counties located outside of specific surveillance areas for bovine tuberculosis and CWD. These kits allow hunters to remove lymph nodes and ship them to the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at no cost. Testing is also available for a fee through USDA-approved diagnostic laboratories.
All deer donated to the Hunters Feeding Michigan program from counties with previously confirmed cases of CWD or bovine tuberculosis are also tested. This screening is conducted directly at the MSU laboratory. The DNR’s testing and research efforts are funded through general fund dollars provided by the Michigan Legislature.
Data analysis of surveillance efforts from 2025 is currently underway, with results expected to be released in April. Plans for the 2026 surveillance season are currently in progress. The DNR will post finalized information regarding 2026 drop box locations and staffed submission sites on its CWD testing webpage once they are established.