IDNR to Conduct Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Public Informational Meetings

LENA, IL - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has scheduled a series of public meetings to provide information about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), its effect on future deer populations, and IDNR's efforts to control the disease.  IDNR staff will also be available to answer questions about this disease.  Landowners, hunters, and concerned citizens are encouraged to attend.  CWD is an important issue that will dominate deer management discussions in northern Illinois for many years.

Chronic Wasting Disease is an always fatal neurological disease that is threatening the long-term health of white-tailed deer in Illinois.  First documented in Illinois in 2002 near Roscoe, Illinois, CWD has been detected in 17 counties across the northern edge and northeastern portions of Illinois as far south as the Illinois River Valley.  Counties affected include Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Carroll, Ogle, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy, Will, Livingston, and Kankakee.

The public meetings on CWD will each begin at 7 p.m. with a 30-minute presentation and discussion to follow.  Meetings will be held as follows:

September 12 - Galena City Hall, 101 Green St., Galena, IL

September 14 - Lena Community Center, 497 Lions Dr., Lena, IL

September 26 - Illinois State Rifle Association Shooting Range, 1589 N. 7000W Rd, Bonfield, IL (approximately 7 miles west of Kankakee)

September 27 - Pontiac Sportsman's Club, 18663 4H Park Rd, Pontiac, IL

September 28 - MCCD's Lost Valley Visitors Center, 6316 Harts Road, Ringwood, IL

October 12 - Belvidere Community Building, 111 W. First St., Belvidere, IL

For more information about the meetings or CWD, contact Doug Dufford, IDNR Wildlife Disease Program Manager at 815-369-2414 or by email at doug.dufford@illinois.gov.