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The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation on May 5 called for an independent scientific review of Wisconsin's chronic wasting disease management program as well as stronger measures to prevent escapes of captive animals from deer farms.

The items were among 11 CWD-related recommendations from the federation, an affiliation of 195 conservation clubs in the state.

The suggestions come in the wake of statements made April 25 by Gov. Scott Walker that Wisconsin should do more to combat the fatal deer disease.

Walker directed the Department of Natural Resources to review its efforts, as well as recommendations of Rep. Chris Danou (D-Trempeleau) and Rep. Chris Milroy (D-South Range), to see what potential changes are supported by science and could help stop the spread of the disease.

In Thursday's statement, the federation applauded Walker's willingness to look at modifications in the state's CWD program.

The organization noted more than 9% of deer tested in Wisconsin in 2015 were CWD-positive, a 50% increase from 2014, and several findings of CWD in recent years on captive cervid farms have greatly expanded the distribution of the disease.

In 2015, CWD was discovered on a deer farm in Eau Claire County and at a shooting preserve in Oneida County, causing six additional counties to be listed as CWD-affected.

"The Wisconsin deer herd is critically important to Wisconsin's 600,000 gun deer hunters and 225,000 archery and crossbow hunters and is the basis for an estimated $1 billion annual economic impact for Wisconsin," the federation wrote. "In addition through efforts of the DNR and sports groups there has been a major effort to import elk into the state of Wisconsin. Elk are also susceptible to being infected with CWD."

The WWF listed its CWD recommendations in a letter to Walker. In addition to an independent review of the state's CWD program and double fencing at all captive deer facilities, the federation called for:

- Captive cervid farms be required to inspect their exterior fences at least monthly and immediately after any major wind storms in their locality.

- If a captive cervid farm in Wisconsin becomes infected by CWD that, unless double fenced, the property be depopulated within 30 days.

- Captive cervid farms in the state be required to maintain liability insurance to cover any costs and damages to the state of Wisconsin, including the wild deer herd resulting from any escape of cervids from the farm.

- The DNR be required to substantially increase CWD sampling.

- The Legislature be requested to increase funding for the DNR and Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to adequately regulate CWD.

- The DNR and the DATCP substantially increase their transparency and distribution of information on CWD, including its spread in intensity in the wild deer herd, incidents of escapes from captive cervid farms, discovery of CWD in captive cervid farms and updated information on CWD research findings from across the country.

Walker's office had no comment Friday on the recommendations. On April 25, Walker said he expected the DNR to have an update on potential program changes within a month.


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Editor's note: This article first appeared in our companion service The Archery Wire with the permission of Paul A. Smith and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Read more by Mr. Smith athttp://www.jsonline.com/sports/outdoors/.