NW Twin Cities

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is taking action to control the spread of chronic wasting disease, and has adjusted bans on the feeding of deer in parts of the state.

Deer feeding bans have been expanded around central Minnesota as seven counties: Carlton, Chisago, Douglas, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine and Pope are part of the new expanded ban. Douglas and Stearns County have bans as well.

This summer, on July 1, there is a plan by DNR following three years of testing to remove counties from the feeding ban. Those counties are: Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville  and Wright. Testing showed no evidence of any wild deer disease in those counties.

There will be a deer attractant ban that will stay in place. DNR officials state that attractants can be natural or manufactured and include items containing deer urine, blood, gland oil, feces or other bodily fluid.

The following counties have a deer attractant ban: Aitkin, Cass, Crow  Wing, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena and Winona.

“Deer often gather around feed and attractants, and that close contact encourages disease spread,” said Barbara Keller, the DNR’s big game program leader, in a published statement. “That’s why we’re asking all Minnesotans to help prevent the spread of this deadly disease by following these feeding and attractant bans.”