Ep. 80 - The Deer Are NOT Alright: Chronic Wasting Disease
From The Field Guides by The Field Guides
April 30, 2026
About this episode
The episode discusses chronic wasting disease and its impact on deer populations.
Something’s not right in the woods, at least if you’re a white-tailed deer. In this episode, the guys dig into chronic wasting disease (CWD), a strange illness reshaping deer populations in many areas of the Lower 48 (and Scandinavia!). It’s not caused by a virus or a bacteria, but it is related to mad cow disease. They break down what it is, how it spreads, what’s happening inside infected animals, and why it’s so dang hard to contain. The deer are not alright… and there’s a reason.
Topics covered
- chronic wasting disease
- deer populations
- wildlife health
- disease spread
- animal diseases
Keywords
- chronic wasting disease
- CWD
- white-tailed deer
- disease spread
- wildlife management
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Chronic Wasting Disease, mad cow disease
Places: Lower 48, Scandinavia
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