South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) released a draft action plan on April 3 that outlines the state’s plans to address Chronic Wasting Disease in the state. The objective of the plan is to provide wildlife managers with guidance and the public with transparency about how the disease will be managed in the state over the next ten years. The volunteer stakeholder group engaged to help develop the plan were tasked with thinking long-term about how to reduce the spread of the disease to ensure thriving deer and elk populations in the state 50-100 years from now. The plan outlines three main management goals for GFP related to CWD: determine presence and absence in high surveillance areas, reduce the spread from known endemic areas, and provide information to help understand, support and participate in CWD management practices.

“Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, is a fatal brain disease found in deer, elk and moose herds,” said Chad Switzer, GFP wildlife program administrator. “The disease has been confirmed within free-ranging deer and elk in Custer, Fall River, Lawrence and Pennington counties. The draft action plan includes best management practices and suggestions for modified or new regulations to help slow the spread. We want to hear from resident and nonresident hunters, wildlife watchers, our neighbors and other outdoor enthusiasts about what their concerns are and how we can continue to improve the draft action plan.”

Comments on the plan may be submitted by email or mailed to 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, S.D. 57501 through May 5, 2019. Comments must include full name and city of residence. To request a printed copy of the draft plan, call 605.773.3387.