The debate over the role of baiting and feeding in the spread of CWD has been a focal point in wildlife management discussions, and a point of contention among hunters for years. While conventional wisdom attributes the spread of CWD to increased deer congregation at feeding sites, recent scientific understanding reveals a different mechanism altogether.
Contrary to popular belief, the reason baiting and feeding can spread CWD is not because of close physical proximity to each other, but rather the inadvertent contact deer make with infected prions present in their feed, which are then ingested.
The Traditional Assumption:
For years, the prevailing belief has been that bait piles cause increased CWD transmission by causing deer to congregate tightly together, facilitating the transfer of the contagious disease through close contact. This belief has led to management strategies aimed at reducing artificial congregation points to mitigate CWD spread. However, emerging research challenges this simplistic narrative.
Confounding Variables
At the heart of the issue lies the presence of infectious prions in feed. Prions are abnormal proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases like CWD. These prions can persist in the environment for extended periods, including in soil and feed sources commonly used in baiting and feeding sites. When deer consume prion-contaminated feed, they unknowingly expose themselves to the disease - whether they’re around other deer or not..
Scientific Insights:
The danger posed by prion contamination is subtle yet significant. Unlike the immediate and visible effects of physical congregation, prion exposure can lead to the silent spread of CWD within deer populations. This hidden danger underscores the need for a deeper understanding of how CWD operates and spreads among wildlife.
Recent studies have shed light on the persistence of prions in soil and their ability to bind to common deer feed like corn. This binding phenomenon means that even when deer do not physically interact closely, they can still come into contact with infectious prions through shared resources at feeding sites.
What should we do?
Acknowledging that feeding deer contributes to CWD spread via prion contamination calls for a re-evaluation of management strategies. While reducing congregation points remains important, efforts must also focus on minimizing prion exposure in feed to effectively curb the disease's spread.
This is where humic acid comes in. Humic acid de-contaminates the feed, making it safe for consumption, and reducing the risk of CWD infection. It is crucial to educate stakeholders, including hunters, wildlife managers, and the public, about the nuanced dynamics of CWD transmission. Emphasizing proper feed handling, sourcing from certified suppliers, and awareness of prion contamination risks can play a vital role in preventing the further spread of CWD.
So the answer is yes. Baiting and feeding can indeed increase the spread of CWD, but not for the reason everyone thinks. And with this shift in cause, our thinking on solutions needs to shift accordingly. Solutions need to focus not on reducing physical congregation, but rather on addressing prion exposure from the environment, and specifically from farmed feed. By doing this, we can develop more targeted and effective strategies for managing CWD and safeguarding the health of our deer populations.
