MONTGOMERY-The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) has deployed six self-service Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) sampling stations in north Alabama as part of its increased CWD sampling surveillance efforts in the state. The sample station freezers are in Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Franklin, Lauderdale, and Colbert counties, and are available to receive deer head samples 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To prepare the sample to be dropped off at one of the self-service locations, hunters must first remove the deer’s head leaving 4-6 inches of neck attached. Once it’s removed, place the head in the provided plastic bag and tie it closed. For bucks, antlers can be removed at the base of each antler or by removing the skull plate before bagging the head. Next, complete all sections of the Biological Sample Tag and attach it to the bag with a zip tie. Remove and retain the bottom receipt portion of the Biological Sample Tag before placing the bagged head in the freezer. Plastic sample bags, tags, and zip ties are provided at each freezer location.
Additionally, hunters can have deer sampled at any WFF District Office or at the WFF office in Marengo County. When providing samples at WFF offices, hunters can bring a whole deer, field-dressed deer, or just the head from a harvested animal. WFF offices are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hunters should call ahead so a biologist is available to collect the sample. The WFF office in Marengo County is located at 1105 Bailey Dr., Demopolis, Ala., 36732, phone number 334-289-8030. WFF District Office contact information is available at www.outdooralabama.com/
The test results will be emailed to the hunter within three to four weeks.
WFF recently increased CWD sampling surveillance efforts in north Alabama after deer in nearby Mississippi and Tennessee tested CWD-positive.
CWD is a contagious and deadly neurological disease that affects members of the deer family. To date, no deer in Alabama have tested positive for CWD.
Locations of the self-service CWD drop off sampling sites:
Fayette County
Fayette County Extension Office
650 McConnell Loop
Fayette, Ala., 35555
N 33.7303, W -87.8048
Lamar County
Hunter’s Gold Processing
11634 County Rd. 9
Millport, Ala., 35576
N 33.6375, W -88.2313
Marion County
Watson’s Grocery
5658 State Highway 19
Detroit, Ala., 35552
N 34.1298, W -88.1238
Franklin County
Fancher’s Taxidermy
715 Newell Rd.
Red Bay, Ala., 35582
N 34.4341, W -88.1126
Lauderdale County
Florence Frozen Meats
1050 South Court St.
Florence, Ala., 35630
N 34.7901, W -87.6694
Colbert County
Yogi’s Texaco
17750 US Highway 72
Tuscumbia, Ala., 35674
N 34.7219, W -87.8126
In addition to WFF offices and the self-service drop off locations, WFF will conduct a voluntary CWD-sampling station manned by WFF biologists on January 12-13, 2019, in Waterloo, Ala., in Lauderdale County.
The sampling station in Lauderdale County will be set up in the parking lot of Waterloo Fire Station #1, 6390 County Road 14, Waterloo, Ala., 35677.
Deer may be brought to Waterloo for sampling during the following dates and times:
• Saturday, January 12, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sunday, January 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To learn more about CWD and to get information on future public sampling sites, visitwww.outdooralabama.com/cwd.
Media Release/WFF Wildlife Section/Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
