The disease — which is 100% fatal — causes a deer's nervous system to shut down until they die, but there's no evidence of the disease spreading to humans.

Ending the spread of CWD appears unlikely because the prions, which cluster in the brain and nervous system, can be transmitted in many of ways.

Chronic wasting disease has been detected near Hawley for the first time. Hunters' voluntary testing helped identify the disease; new management zones and sampling rules may follow.