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Natural Resources Board approves captive deer fence rule

Wisconsin is moving towards permanent rules regulating captive deer herds to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease.

Wisconsin’s Natural Resources Board voted Wednesday to support additional fencing requirements.  The board says diseased deer need to be contained, and the new permanent rule will prevent managers of captive deer herds from releasing deer into the wild.

Natural Resources Board member Gary Zimmer says if hobby farms and rural residents want to have these deer herds in their backyard, they need to take precautions they’ve never had to take before to prevent the spread of CWD. Zimmer says,  “We’ve got an issue that, heh, if you’re going to have this herd in your backyard, then we really have to take major, major precautions that we never had to take before, and I think they’re going to have to think about something more that protects their herd and the state’s herd.”

Board member Dr. Frederick Prehn says they must do whatever is necessary to protect the statewide deer herd.  He says, “Hobby farmers and deer enthusiasts that choose to keep these types of facilities should take away from this discussion that they’re on notice that we’re not interested in jeopardizing the herd because of the fence.”

Prehn says the state should use the full breadth of the law to protect the herd.

The proposed rules WM-13 through 15 clarify which deer farm operations will require a single fence or a double fence, and replace an emergency rule established last December with a permanent fencing requirement.