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GLADWIN COUNTY — Gladwin County is now the 18th Michigan county where chronic wasting disease has been identified in the wild deer population, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. A hunter-harvested deer from Clement Township recently tested positive for the disease.
The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the CWD finding. The sample was also sent for secondary confirmation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. Results are pending but are expected to confirm the infection.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. The disease has also been detected in the following Michigan counties: Allegan, Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw and Washtenaw.
CWD has been detected in Midland County to the south of Gladwin and in Ogemaw County to the north. Gladwin County was placed under focused CWD surveillance in 2021 as part of the DNR’s rotational approach.
“The detection of chronic wasting disease in Gladwin County is consistent with the slow, incremental spread we have observed across Michigan,” said Brent Rudolph, DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist. “New positive results can be alarming for nearby communities and frustrating as the total count continues to grow, but these detections are critical to our understanding of the scope of chronic wasting disease in our state. We greatly appreciate hunters’ continued persistence in submitting samples for testing.”
The public is encouraged to report sick deer at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField. Deer that appear emaciated, lethargic, disoriented, lame or unresponsive are candidates for CWD testing, though those symptoms can also be caused by other diseases or injuries.
Health and safety recommendations
To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in people. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that infected animals not be consumed by humans or domestic animals.
Hunters should wear rubber gloves when field-dressing or processing deer, minimize contact with the brain and spinal tissue, and wash hands with soap and warm water after handling any parts of the carcass.
Proper disposal of deer carcasses is critical to help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease. Carcasses and parts should go directly to a landfill or be disposed of through regular bagged trash pickup. Studies show that CWD can survive on the landscape for years, contributing to the spread of disease. Deer harvested from known CWD areas should never be disposed of on the landscape.
Surveillance and testing
Data analysis of focused surveillance efforts for 2025 is underway, and results will be available in April. Plans for 2026 surveillance are in progress. Additional information on CWD testing in 2026, including locations of DNR drop boxes and staffed sample submission sites, will be posted on the CWD testing webpage once finalized.
Free self-sample submission kits are available in all counties outside of the DNR bovine tuberculosis and CWD surveillance areas. The kits allow hunters to remove lymph nodes and ship them directly to the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at no cost.
Testing has identified a total of 376 CWD-positive wild deer in Michigan out of about 148,800 tested. For more information on chronic wasting disease, visit Michigan.gov/CWD.
