First Case of CWD Hits Whitetail Deer in Allegan County

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has slowly been spreading in Michigan's deer herd. The fatal and contagious neurological disease has been detected in Allegan County.

CWD Reported in Deer in Several Michigan Counties

Chronic wasting disease was first discovered in Colorado in 1967, when captive mule deer tested positive. It wasn't until 2008 that captive deer in Kent County, Michigan, tested positive for CWD.

It wasn't until 2015 in Ingham County that CWD was detected in wild deer.

As of mid-November of 2025 CWD has been confirmed in at least 17 counties including, Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw, Washtenaw, and now we add Allegan to the list.

Read More: 3D Scanning Revolutionizes Michigan Buck Scoring

Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal disease that infects whitetail deer, elk, moose, and caribou. Symptoms include progressive weight loss, drooling, lack of coordination, and behavioral changes.

CWD Detected in Allegan County Whitetail Deer for First Time

The last thing hunters in Allegan County wanted to hear just before firearm season kicks off is a deer from the wild herd has tested positive for CWD. According to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources press release, residents in Allegan County reported that a doe looks really sick, and it turns out they were right after the animal tested positive for CWD.

The deer was spotted in Leighton Township. The deer was only 1.5 years old when some private landowners reported the unhealthy deer to the DNR. A DNR officer came out and humanely euthanized the deer in late September for testing. The deer was in poor health and had no body fat.

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This particular deer was tested because residents did the right thing and reported the sightings. If you see a deer that is acting strange and looks to be in poor health or find dead deer that were not shot or hit by a car, please report them here.

👇BELOW: 2025 Archery Deer Season County-By-County Harvest Report👇