The Chronic Wasting Disease Control Area in northeast central Louisiana will expand on May 1 following a confirmed case in Catahoula Parish.
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) approved a Declaration of Emergency (DE) and a Notice of Intent (NOI) during its April 3 meeting. This action follows the discovery of a CWD-positive wild white-tailed buck harvested by a hunter in March. This is the first CWD detection outside of Tensas Parish.
The expanded control area now includes a 25-mile radius from the Catahoula index case. Newly impacted areas include portions of Caldwell, Richland, La Salle, and Catahoula parishes. The original area included all of Tensas Parish and parts of East Carroll, Madison, Franklin, and Concordia parishes. Franklin and Concordia parishes will see additional expansions.
Effective May 1, the DE prohibits baiting and supplemental feeding of deer within the expanded zone. Transporting deer carcasses outside the area is banned unless restricted to specific parts or authorized by permit for taxidermy. Landmarks such as parish lines, roads, and waterways mark the control boundary.
DE remains active for 180 days
The DE remains active for 180 days or until the NOI becomes final and replaces it.
You can view the DE and NOI documents at Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission Action Items.
The NOI outlines a smaller, high-risk mitigation area within the broader Chronic Wasting Disease Control Area. This inner zone spans approximately 15 miles from any known positive case and prohibits all baiting and supplemental feeding. Outside of this radius but within the larger control area, mechanical, non-stationary broadcast feeding may be permitted.
Importantly, the NOI is a proposed rule and will not take effect unless passed by the LWFC. A final vote is expected by August 2025 at the earliest. No statewide feeding bans are part of either the DE or NOI.
CWD is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease affecting white-tailed deer and other Cervids. It is caused by an abnormal protein called a prion. Infected animals may show symptoms such as weight loss, salivation, disorientation, and a lack of fear toward humans.
There is currently no treatment or vaccine. Although no transmission to humans has been confirmed, the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization advise against consuming infected deer. Testing is encouraged and provided free of charge by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).
For more on Chronic Wasting Disease and testing information, visit LDWF’s CWD Page.
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