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Idaho Fish and Game

March 19 update: F&G deer removal project in Slate Creek at 21 CWD cases so far

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Fish and Game continues work to slow the spread of chronic wasting disease. A total of 375 deer and 8 elk have been removed from the Slate Creek drainage as of March 19. So far, of the hundreds of samples sent to the lab, 21 samples have come back positive for CWD. Wildlife staff expects to have more sample results back from the lab within the next week or so. 

CWD was found for the first time in Idaho in the Slate Creek area in 2021. Because chronic wasting disease is a highly contagious, always fatal wildlife disease without a known cure, Regional Wildlife Manager Jana Ashling states, "We need to act now. If we were to wait, the disease will spread farther, and we certainly want to contain this as much as possible." 

Bait station placed on private property to attract deer in Nut Basin near White Bird. A shooter will wait for deer to approach where the animal can be safely shot and removed.

"This has been an outstanding effort and I am proud of our crew," Ashling said. A project as large as this one would not be possible without the cooperation of several conservation-minded local landowners. We also appreciate the partnership between Fish and Game staff, Wildlife Services, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. We wouldn't be able to accomplish this project without all of these partners working together." 

After meat is processed, it is very carefully labeled and placed in separate locations to cool. Each animal is marked with an individual number code and GPS coordinates to keep track of each individual CWD sample. Meat that tests negative for CWD, will be donated to individuals in need.

During their meeting on March 16, Fish and Game Commissioners authorized the expansion of the project to get deer for CWD testing from adjacent areas, including in Unit 18 across the Salmon River from Slate Creek, to the immediate south of Slate Creek in John Day Creek, and to the north in a small portion of McKenzie Creek. 

For more information about this project, contact the Clearwater Regional office at (208) 799-5010.