Utilizing Roadkill Salvage to Bolster Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Data in Urban Areas

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy that is always fatal to members of the deer family (Cervidae). CWD poses a unique challenge for wildlife managers as there is no cure or treatment for infected individuals, it remains transmissible and persistent in the environment, and symptoms become evident only after a long incubation period. The disease has yet to be detected in Oregon. CWD can impact trophic systems, economies, and sources of first foods. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW) CWD management plan includes increased surveillance through diversified sampling efforts, and public education and outreach. Monitoring for CWD is of particular importance in urban areas, as some studies have shown increased prevalence in urban areas in states where the disease is present. Cervids with CWD are more vulnerable to becoming roadkill, due to neurological symptoms, and emphasis has been placed on increasing samples in locations where hunter harvest isn’t possible. Within urban environments, ODFW relies heavily on roadkill salvage (RKS) animals to increase CWD detection probability. We obtained 20 and 13 CWD samples from RKS cervids in 2023 and 2024, respectively. We will present the spatial distribution of RKS samples obtained in the Portland metropolitan area for 2023-2024. Future RKS sampling efforts can be increased via partnerships with municipal governments and other state agencies. The public can help local deer and elk populations by not feeding them, adhering to ODFW regulations and by talking with their community about the impacts of CWD.