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The first tests confirmed four other cases this hunting season. And in the past few days, two other deer have tested positive for preliminary screening.
Hunters in southeastern Minnesota have killed half a dozen deer infected with chronic wasting this fall.
Up to this hunting season, there were only 17 confirmed cases of MDC in Minnesota wild deer herds. They were concentrated within five miles of Preston and Lanesboro.
Michelle Carstensen leads CWD's leadership for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. She says that one of these animals was shot several kilometers from the known infection area.
"We have strong evidence of the persistence of this disease," she said. "And we seem to be spreading to the northwest, this disease is gaining ground."
MNR created a CWD Management Zone two years ago. Now, says Carstensen, it will have to be expanded.
"Our limits will change," she said. "We created this first area based on the information we had."
And she said, more cases are likely. The deer season has been closed Sunday in much of the state, but hunters in southeastern Minnesota have until November 25.
More cases of MDC are never good news, she said, but she was able to use the test data to better understand how the disease is spreading. All infected deer were mature, strong males, looking for partners.
The goat that was shot outside the management area appeared to be traveling along the Root River.
She says the CWD seems to spread along the river corridors, where deer can easily move.
You can listen to news from Minnesota Public Radio at KZSE 91.7 FM in the Rochester area or visit MPRnews.org online.
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