Chronic Wasting Disease Information

Chronic Wasting Disease Page

This page has been developed to help inform the public about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and the state's efforts to keep the disease from spreading to Vermont.

CWD is a Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) of deer and elk. Scientific and epidemiological research into CWD is ongoing. To date, research shows that the disease is typified by chronic weight loss, is always fatal, and is transmissible between susceptible species. CWD has only been found in members of the deer family in North America, which include white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose.

Proposed Rules for Captive Cervids

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture maintains jurisdiction over the licensing and regulation of captive deer and eld (cervid) farms in the state of Vermont. The state legislature recently approved changes to rules governing captive cervids in the sate.
To view Vermont's proposed captive captive cervid rules, click here.

Contact Information

For more information, contact the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Animal Health Division at animal.health@agr.state.vt.us