Escaped Deer In Eau Claire County Might Have Chronic Wasting Disease

Two bucks that may be carrying chronic wasting disease have escaped from a deer farm in eastern Eau Claire County.

Officials with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are asking for the public’s help in tracking them down for testing.

According to the DNR, a doe tested positive for CWD last month at a deer farm near the village of Fairchild. But now, agency officials said a number of deer escaped from the farm in May after a tree damaged a tall fence. Most of the deer were recovered but two bucks remain on the loose.

DNR wildlife biologist Bill Hogseth said they’re asking people in the area to watch for deer with large, yellow ear tags.

“We do not know if those bucks are positive CWD animals or not, but we’re treating it as a high-risk situation and want to remove them from the landscape because we see them as posing a threat to the health of the wild deer herd in the area,” he said.

Hogseth said if residents spots a buck with an ear tag they should report it to the DNR immediately.