TWRA, UT Extension hosting Sept. 15 public meeting on expansion of deer disease into Hardin County

A special meeting on Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, will be held in Savannah on Thursday, Sept. 15.

CWD is a fatal, neurological illness occurring in North American members of the deer family, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose.

In April, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in a pair of deer in Hardin County.

One positive deer was confirmed in southern Hardin County and the other was north of Savannah, closer to the Decatur County border, meaning Hardin County is now classified as a CWD positive county, while Decatur County is classified as a high-risk CWD county, TWRA said.

The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission instituted deer carcass exportation and wildlife feeding restrictions in both Hardin and Decatur counties in a disease control effort.

Supplemental feeding of wildlife is banned in all of the state’s high-risk and positive counties, so the placement of grains, salt products, and other consumable products for wildlife is prohibited.

The ban does not apply to feed placed within 100 feet of a residence, feed placed in a manner not accessible to deer, or feed and minerals as the result of normal agricultural practices. Food plots are still legal in affected counties.

TWRA and University of Tennessee extension officials will be providing an update on CWD in Hardin County.

Jared Stricklin, Hardin County’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension agent of the University of Tennessee, encourages residents to attend.

“This will be a great opportunity to learn more about CWD for all hunters, landowners, and wildlife enthusiasts,” Stricklin said.

“TWRA and UT Extension professionals will provide updates and information about CWD in Hardin County and will address any questions regarding CWD from citizens attending the meeting,” he added.

The CWD update meeting takes place at the Historic Savannah Theatre, 75 Court St., from 7-8:30 p.m.