60 deer harvested in Nebraska test positive for chronic wasting disease

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Samples taken from deer in Nebraska last year found an increase in cases of chronic wasting disease.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said Tuesday that 60 deer harvested in November tested positive for the disease.

That’s up from 30 in 2023.

But Game and Parks’ sample size was also much larger in 2024.

More than 1,400 deer were tested last year, compared with about 600 in 2023.

The disease was detected for the first time in 10 new counties: Antelope, Butler, Greeley, Jefferson, Madison, Merrick, Platte, Richardson, Seward and York.

Chronic wasting disease attacks the brain of deer, elk and moose.

In the late stage of the disease, infected animals will look emaciated and behave erratically, according to Game and Parks.

But they are usually killed by predators, hunters or vehicles before the disease progresses that far.

There have been no known human cases of chronic wasting disease, but officials urge people take precautions while butchering.

Game and Parks said you should not eat meat from an animal that looks sick.