Captive Non-Domestic

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

The Animal Industry Board continues to maintain a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program approved by USDA APHIS. Currently, South Dakota has 23 farmed cervid herds participating in the USDA recognized voluntary CWD Herd Certification (HCP) program. This surveillance program resulted in CWD testing of 78 eligible animals in FY 2023.

As of June 20, 2023 there have been 33,918 wild cervids sampled for CWD under the direction of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, with 722 positive results. Please see the SD GFP website at the link below for locations where CWD has been detected in wild deer and elk.

South Dakota CWD Cases:

September 2023 - CWD was detected in a captive whitetail deer herd in Aurora County. The herd was quarantined until the results were confirmed by National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, IA. In cooperation with USDA-Veterinary Services the herd was depopulated in November 2023. The facility no longer has cervids on-site.

February 2022 - Confirmed in a Haakon County mule deer herd. The herd is under quarantine. The Animal Industry Board is cooperating with the herd owner and USDA to conduct periodic ante-mortem testing of all animals in the herd, as well as assisting with research efforts (i.e. disease spread, early test detection, potential genetic resistance) to learn more about CWD in mule deer.

October 2020 - Confirmed in a Captive elk herd in Custer County, South Dakota. This herd completed depopulation in November 2021.

2019 - Identified single farmed elk herds in Meade County and Clark County. These two herds were depopulated in late 2019 and the fenced premises no longer have captive cervids present.

CWD Resources

• CWD Map
• USDA APHIS CWD
• South Dakota Dept. of Game, Fish, and Parks
• CWD Pamphlet
• Listing of Approved State HCPs