BREAKING: Michigan Adds 17th County to Its CWD Map

Allegan County, congratulations? You're now the 17th Michigan county with a confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in wild deer. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says an emaciated doe in Leighton Township tested positive, making Allegan the newest dot on Michigan's CWD map.

According to a DNR release, residents first noticed the 1.5-year-old doe looking rough back in late summer — we're talking zero body fat, low energy, and moving the way you do when you walk into a room and completely forget what you came for — but she never seemed to snap out of it. After the DNR stepped in, humane euthanasia and testing confirmed CWD.

Where Michigan Has Confirmed CWD Cases

If you're keeping score, Allegan is now the 17th county in Michigan with confirmed CWD, joining Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw, and Washtenaw.

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Is CWD Dangerous to People or Pets?

If there's any good news, there are still zero reported cases in humans or pets. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still advises against eating infected venison.

What Michigan Hunters Should Do Now

The DNR continues to ask hunters to take the following precautions:

• Wear gloves when field dressing.
• Avoid brain and spinal tissue (honestly, a great rule for everyday life).
• Dispose of carcasses properly — not in the woods, not in a ditch, and definitely not behind your cousin's pole barn.
• Report any sick deer at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField.
• Get your deer tested. Free self-sample kits are available statewide.

RELATED: DNR Begs Michigan Hunters: Please Shoot a Doe!

Allegan was under focused surveillance in 2021 with no positives, so this new case is exactly why the DNR wants early detection. Keep those reports coming and keep harvesting does.