Chronic wasting disease (CWD) threatens the long-term health of cervid populations across North America. For many state wildlife agencies, the introduction and spread of CWD has caused significant financial impacts and resource allocation issues. Loss of direct and indirect revenue related to hunting can also affect local economies.

CWD was first detected in Tennessee in 2018. At the time, TWRA had enacted a CWD surveillance plan developed by the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab (CWHL). The surveillance plan used a risk-weighted sampling system to focus effort in the areas where the disease was more likely to be introduced. 

Since 2018, the CWHL has continued to support TWRA’s CWD program through improved surveillance data collection and management, and the use of mathematical modeling to understand the disease in Tennessee and further enhance surveillance and response efforts. Through this service agreement, the CWHL will continue to support TWRA to further improve and enhance its CWD surveillance and management efforts.