KNOXVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is now in Tennessee, and experts with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will hold\u00a0six public workshops to answer questions about the disease and what hunters and others should know.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each workshop will include discussions of the new hunting regulations for Unit CWD in eight West Tennessee counties: Fayette, Hardeman and Madison, where the disease has been detected, as well as the surrounding high risk counties of Chester, Haywood, McNairy, Shelby and Tipton. A question and answer session will follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCWD is a fatal disease primarily affecting members of the cervid family that includes white-tailed deer, elk, mule deer, moose, and others,\u201d says Dan Grove, wildlife veterinarian with UT Extension. \u201cWe are concerned about the impacts the disease will have on the deer herd in southwest Tennessee and the impacts on hunters and people living in the affected area. We want to offer an opportunity to learn more about the disease and the new hunting regulations, which may impact people living and hunting in affected counties. We also want to share what people can do to help TWRA with disease management.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The workshops will take place in southwestern Tennessee counties through July and August, each at 7 p.m.. The first session is scheduled for tomorrow, July 9, in McNairy County. The full schedule is listed below:
McNairy County \u2013 Tuesday, July 9, UT Martin Selmer Center
Tipton County – Thursday, July 11, Tipton County Farm Bureau Office
Madison County \u2013 Tuesday, July 16, UT Extension Office
Shelby County – Thursday, July 18, UT Extension Office
Haywood County \u2013 Thursday, August 1, Haywood County Justice Complex
Chester County \u2013 Tuesday, August 27, Henderson City Hall
All questions should be directed to the TWRA Region 1 Office by calling 731-423-5725. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Grove has just released a UT Extension fact sheet<\/a> describing the disease. The publication is available online at the UT Extension website: extension.tennessee.edu<\/a>. Search the \u201cpublications\u201d tab for Chronic Wasting Disease.\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n