Oklahoma Reports Second Case of 'Zombie Deer' in 2023

A second wild white-tailed deer in Oklahoma has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), following the state's first case confirmed in June. The deer was found in Woodward County after a landowner reported abnormal behavior. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) will implement surveillance efforts to monitor and slow the potential spread of the disease. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk, and other cervids, but transmission to humans or livestock has not been documented. The ODWC will provide additional information on detection and mitigation as hunting seasons approach.