Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Michigan
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Effective chronic wasting disease (CWD) management has relied on the targeted harvest or culling of white-tailed deer hosts in local areas where CWD has been newly detected and apparent prevalence is assumed < 1%. While this can be successful, it is dependent on existing deer densities and the ability to effectively remove deer and sustain high, additive mortality rates. To evaluate desired CWD mitigation and management goals, it is critical to understand whether deer density changed due to removals and then be able to repeat a reliable population estimation measurement. Furthermore, it is essential that these density estimates are rigorous yet easily implemented. There is a need to standardize these approaches to compare efforts over time and among jurisdictions. Working in collaboration with Michigan DNR and USDA, we are attempting to implement a standardized density estimation technique for deer on the scale of CWD management (9 square miles). If we can demonstrate a reliable, efficient, non-invasive density estimation technique it can be broadly adopted across the jurisdictions that manage CWD and inform management and success.