Chronic Wasting Disease sampling in Allamakee and Clayton counties has gotten off to a good start

Deer hunters have provided 54 tissue samples to Iowa DNR officials that will be tested for the presence of chronic wasting disease in Allamakee and Clayton counties following the first weekend of a nine day scientific collection effort in the counties.

Iowa DNR wildlife biologist Terry Haindfield, who is coordinating the effort to contain and limit the spread of the fatal deer disease, says, "Our hope with this effort is to collect samples from specific sections in these zones where we don't have much data, from adult animals which are those more likely to have picked the disease, and if we can, to remove additional positive deer that will no longer be spreading this disease on the environment for others to become infected."

The collection effort will end this Sunday.  Haindfield says the cooperation of hunters and landowners is critical, since the DNR can't do this alone.

Permits to participate in the collection effort are available at the DNR office in Harpers Ferry or the Clayton County Conservation Osborne Nature Center, which will serve as the designated check stations. Permits will be available at the check stations daily through Sunday, starting at noon weekdays and at 8:00 a.m. on weekends.