The Hodenpyl Dam is one of two major Consumers Energy dams in the Manistee River, and 13 statewide.
(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
Consumers Energy is advancing its plan to curb water flow to a popular section of the Manistee River next month so it can inspect damage at one of its 13 hydropower dams, although company officials say they have not settled on a “final path forward.”
While Consumers contends that a temporary disruption in flow from the Hodenpyl Dam would have minimal downstream impact — lowering water levels by about a foot — river advocates oppose the plan and question whether the company has fully considered other options.
“What option can you come up with to ensure that there will still be some minimal flow in the river, rather than just saying ‘Well, it’s just for a short period of time?’” asked Bob Stuber, executive director of the Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition.
“We’re opposed to it, no matter how short the duration.”
Consumers first alerted officials within the departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to the plan in July, saying it was the only safe way to inspect spring storm damage to the tailrace where water exits the 101-year-old dam.
The issues range from sinkholes and compromised sheet piling to a suspected leaking retaining wall.
After pushback from state officials who feared harm to fish and wildlife, company officials vowed to delay the inspection and consider alternatives.
In an email to state officials reviewed by Bridge Michigan, Consumers representative David McIntosh indicated the company now aims to go through with the inspection sometime during the week of Sept. 21.
In a statement, Consumers spokesperson Brian Wheeler said officials “are continuing to work with our engineering team and regulators to evaluate available options” and expressed disappointment that information had been publicly shared “before plans have been finalized.”
“Our focus remains on the safe operation of all 13 of our dams, including Hodenpyl, which continues to operate safely today,” Wheeler said. “We will communicate our next steps transparently once that process is complete and a final path forward has been determined.”
The plan communicated to state officials calls for intervals in which Consumers would curb or entirely cut off the flow from the Hodenpyl spillgate, allowing for underwater inspections that would otherwise be unsafe because of turbulent water flowing out the spillgate.
Wheeler did not respond to questions from Bridge Michigan about how many no- or low-flow intervals will be needed and how long the entire operation would last.
In a document shared with state officials, McIntosh indicated that Consumers officials are not concerned about the possibility of fish strandings from the altered flow. During a past incident that interrupted flow from the dam, water levels immediately downstream dropped by about a little more than a foot, “which is what we’ll anticipate for our current operation.”
Nonetheless, the company plans to station staff at seven downstream locations, equipping them with waders and nets to return any stranded species to the water. Monitoring will also be done by kayak and drone.
DNR spokesperson Ed Golder said agency officials are reviewing Consumers’ plan and preparing follow-up questions, but the “DNR is encouraged by the protective measures that Consumers Energy has proposed following our initial conversations in July.”
River advocates have expressed opposition to the plan, which would take place in a popular stretch of the river frequented by anglers and boaters and flanked by the popular North Country Trail.
They have urged Consumers to consider using a pipe to siphon water downstream in order to maintain flows.
Documents shared by McIntosh state that siphons “are not being pursued” due to “the timing of the inspection compared to logistics” such as obtaining equipment and getting federal approval to use it.
The inspection difficulties at Hodenpyl Dam have emerged in part because of other mechanical problems on the aging structure.
Normally, the dam’s two power-generating units would offer an alternative way to move water downstream with less turbulence. But the generating units aren’t functioning.
The controversy at Hodenpyl comes as Consumers looks to sell the dam and 12 others across Michigan to a private equity firm for $1 apiece. The deal is motivated partly by Consumers’ desire to avoid spending hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain the aging structures.
While Consumers officials have touted the deal as the cheapest option for its ratepayers, a state administrative law judge in June urged regulators to reject the sale, citing concerns that new owners would not make the investments needed to keep the dams safe. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also opposes the sale.
By Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
Consumers Energy is advancing its plan to curb water flow to a popular section of the Manistee River next month so it can inspect damage at one of its 13 hydropower dams, although company officials say they have not settled on a “final path forward.”
While Consumers contends that a temporary disruption in flow from the Hodenpyl Dam would have minimal downstream impact — lowering water levels by about a foot — river advocates oppose the plan and question whether the company has fully considered other options.
“What option can you come up with to ensure that there will still be some minimal flow in the river, rather than just saying ‘Well, it’s just for a short period of time?’” asked Bob Stuber, executive director of the Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition.
“We’re opposed to it, no matter how short the duration.”
Consumers first alerted officials within the departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to the plan in July, saying it was the only safe way to inspect spring storm damage to the tailrace where water exits the 101-year-old dam.
The issues range from sinkholes and compromised sheet piling to a suspected leaking retaining wall.
After pushback from state officials who feared harm to fish and wildlife, company officials vowed to delay the inspection and consider alternatives.
In an email to state officials reviewed by Bridge Michigan, Consumers representative David McIntosh indicated the company now aims to go through with the inspection sometime during the week of Sept. 21.
In a statement, Consumers spokesperson Brian Wheeler said officials “are continuing to work with our engineering team and regulators to evaluate available options” and expressed disappointment that information had been publicly shared “before plans have been finalized.”
“Our focus remains on the safe operation of all 13 of our dams, including Hodenpyl, which continues to operate safely today,” Wheeler said. “We will communicate our next steps transparently once that process is complete and a final path forward has been determined.”
The plan communicated to state officials calls for intervals in which Consumers would curb or entirely cut off the flow from the Hodenpyl spillgate, allowing for underwater inspections that would otherwise be unsafe because of turbulent water flowing out the spillgate.
Wheeler did not respond to questions from Bridge Michigan about how many no- or low-flow intervals will be needed and how long the entire operation would last.
In a document shared with state officials, McIntosh indicated that Consumers officials are not concerned about the possibility of fish strandings from the altered flow. During a past incident that interrupted flow from the dam, water levels immediately downstream dropped by about a little more than a foot, “which is what we’ll anticipate for our current operation.”
Nonetheless, the company plans to station staff at seven downstream locations, equipping them with waders and nets to return any stranded species to the water. Monitoring will also be done by kayak and drone.
DNR spokesperson Ed Golder said agency officials are reviewing Consumers’ plan and preparing follow-up questions, but the “DNR is encouraged by the protective measures that Consumers Energy has proposed following our initial conversations in July.”
River advocates have expressed opposition to the plan, which would take place in a popular stretch of the river frequented by anglers and boaters and flanked by the popular North Country Trail.
They have urged Consumers to consider using a pipe to siphon water downstream in order to maintain flows.
Documents shared by McIntosh state that siphons “are not being pursued” due to “the timing of the inspection compared to logistics” such as obtaining equipment and getting federal approval to use it.
The inspection difficulties at Hodenpyl Dam have emerged in part because of other mechanical problems on the aging structure.
Normally, the dam’s two power-generating units would offer an alternative way to move water downstream with less turbulence. But the generating units aren’t functioning.
The controversy at Hodenpyl comes as Consumers looks to sell the dam and 12 others across Michigan to a private equity firm for $1 apiece. The deal is motivated partly by Consumers’ desire to avoid spending hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain the aging structures.
While Consumers officials have touted the deal as the cheapest option for its ratepayers, a state administrative law judge in June urged regulators to reject the sale, citing concerns that new owners would not make the investments needed to keep the dams safe. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also opposes the sale.
Going Vertical Allows Pinpoint Control
Eric Payne shows off a vertically- jigged bass.
Photo courtesy Jack Payne
By Jack Payne
Lift drop, lift drop, and then a soft pop. Fish on. Fishing vertically puts fish into the boat. And this is especially true during the late summer. Fishing vertically can, and often will, last until freeze over.
We fish vertically for bluegill, whitefish, walleye, and often bass and crappie. During the late summer and lasting until freeze-over, we find, or hope to find, schools of fish.
Before the fall turnover when the lakes flip, the fish are often suspended or hugging the bottom at depths equal to the thermocline. Once the lakes flip over, we find fish shallow near the weedline or hugging the bottom in deep water.
Vertical fishing offers pinpoint control of your bait and lure. You control the speed that the bait moves. You can fish in a very subtle motion, or you can really pop the bait or lure.
When it comes to panfish, trusting your electronics is a must. Finding a school of suspended fish and then parking yourself over the school is important. Depending on the amount of wind, you can drift slowly, anchor, or use spot-lock with your trolling motor.
Most often, we will fish with one rod in hand and have another sitting in a rod holder or against the side of the boat. When we target bluegill, we lift it up and slowly lower it. A very soft and slow approach works well with the gills.
When the crappies are present
or being targeted, we lift up with a more deliberate pop, letting the plastic tails flutter back down. Pay close attention to your line. Crappies love to grab a bait or lure and rise with it. Pay attention to softness in your line, or to your line moving sideways.
As the water cools, I enjoy fishing a jigging spoon or a blade bait. Both of these baits draw the attention of walleye, bass, and pike. Long points with a sharp drop-off into deep water are a favorite location for many species of game fish.
When fishing a blade bait vertically, two methods stand out. First method: pop it off the bottom hard and let it flutter downward to the bottom. Don't be surprised if a fish pins the bait to the bottom.
The other method is to lift the blade bait and follow it down, much like you would when fishing a jig. Pop it up and chase it down. You will feel the blade bait vibrating up and erratically vibrating side to side as it falls toward the lake bottom. I love blade baits; they hammer walleye, bass, and pike. And if vertical fishing is not for you, cast it out and hop it back in.
The Hopkins Spoon Shorty was the first spoon I tried many moons back. Daryl Christiansen wrote many an article about jigging spoons. I had the pleasure of talking with Daryl, and let me tell you, he knows jigging spoons. Daryl fished spoons on the biggest stages of the early walleye fishing tour. And he won numerous times using a spoon.
I had a hard time believing just how productive throwing a chunk of lead could actually be. Daryl is a big believer that when you lift the spoon off of the bottom, do it hard. Many a fish will pin the spoon to the bottom. Rip the spoon upward to ensure a solid hookset.
Once again, this lure can be fished vertically or cast. And, once more, I love the areas where the contour lines bunch up the tightest and the closest to the deepest water in the lake.
I caught more whitefish after dark on a rain-soaked late fall night fishing a spoon than anything else. For years, one evening during Thanksgiving weekend was set aside just to fish the piers at Grand Haven and Muskegon.
When you fish the piers shoulder to shoulder with other anglers, use a heavy spoon. A one-ounce spoon is a must. It's hard to believe that a fish with such a small mouth would hit a spoon, but they do and it's fun. The nastier the weather, the better the fishing.
Stop in at Bob's Gun and Tackle for your late summer gear needs.
Lift drop, lift drop, and then a soft pop. Fish on. Fishing vertically puts fish into the boat. And this is especially true during the late summer. Fishing vertically can, and often will, last until freeze over.
We fish vertically for bluegill, whitefish, walleye, and often bass and crappie. During the late summer and lasting until freeze-over, we find, or hope to find, schools of fish.
Before the fall turnover when the lakes flip, the fish are often suspended or hugging the bottom at depths equal to the thermocline. Once the lakes flip over, we find fish shallow near the weedline or hugging the bottom in deep water.
Vertical fishing offers pinpoint control of your bait and lure. You control the speed that the bait moves. You can fish in a very subtle motion, or you can really pop the bait or lure.
When it comes to panfish, trusting your electronics is a must. Finding a school of suspended fish and then parking yourself over the school is important. Depending on the amount of wind, you can drift slowly, anchor, or use spot-lock with your trolling motor.
Most often, we will fish with one rod in hand and have another sitting in a rod holder or against the side of the boat. When we target bluegill, we lift it up and slowly lower it. A very soft and slow approach works well with the gills.
When the crappies are present
or being targeted, we lift up with a more deliberate pop, letting the plastic tails flutter back down. Pay close attention to your line. Crappies love to grab a bait or lure and rise with it. Pay attention to softness in your line, or to your line moving sideways.
As the water cools, I enjoy fishing a jigging spoon or a blade bait. Both of these baits draw the attention of walleye, bass, and pike. Long points with a sharp drop-off into deep water are a favorite location for many species of game fish.
When fishing a blade bait vertically, two methods stand out. First method: pop it off the bottom hard and let it flutter downward to the bottom. Don't be surprised if a fish pins the bait to the bottom.
The other method is to lift the blade bait and follow it down, much like you would when fishing a jig. Pop it up and chase it down. You will feel the blade bait vibrating up and erratically vibrating side to side as it falls toward the lake bottom. I love blade baits; they hammer walleye, bass, and pike. And if vertical fishing is not for you, cast it out and hop it back in.
The Hopkins Spoon Shorty was the first spoon I tried many moons back. Daryl Christiansen wrote many an article about jigging spoons. I had the pleasure of talking with Daryl, and let me tell you, he knows jigging spoons. Daryl fished spoons on the biggest stages of the early walleye fishing tour. And he won numerous times using a spoon.
I had a hard time believing just how productive throwing a chunk of lead could actually be. Daryl is a big believer that when you lift the spoon off of the bottom, do it hard. Many a fish will pin the spoon to the bottom. Rip the spoon upward to ensure a solid hookset.
Once again, this lure can be fished vertically or cast. And, once more, I love the areas where the contour lines bunch up the tightest and the closest to the deepest water in the lake.
I caught more whitefish after dark on a rain-soaked late fall night fishing a spoon than anything else. For years, one evening during Thanksgiving weekend was set aside just to fish the piers at Grand Haven and Muskegon.
When you fish the piers shoulder to shoulder with other anglers, use a heavy spoon. A one-ounce spoon is a must. It's hard to believe that a fish with such a small mouth would hit a spoon, but they do and it's fun. The nastier the weather, the better the fishing.
Stop in at Bob's Gun and Tackle for your late summer gear needs.
Kellogg Sanctuary Offers Gathering for Parents with Younger Children
Parents of children not yet of school age are invited to the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary for a weekly gathering and self-paced stroll through the fall months.
The Little Chicks programs will take place from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. on Thursdays, beginning on Sept. 10 and continuing through Nov. 19. Designed for parents looking for things to do after dropping off school-age children, Little Chicks presents an opportunity for parents to gather with their younger children, enjoy a walk or stroller ride along the Sanctuary’s 3/4-mile, accessible paved path, and engage in activities near the main entrance and in the sanctuary’s Overlook Building, which is located along the paved path.
The cost is free with regular admission to the Sanctuary: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, and $5 for children ages 2-17. Sanctuary members always get in free.
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary’s mission is to conserve native habitat for migratory and resident birds and to promote environmental awareness through research, education and outreach. Since 1928, the Sanctuary has served as a practical training school for animal care and land management, and remains an innovator in wildlife conservation efforts.
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is located at 12685 East C Ave., one mile north of M-89 and just west of 40th Street. To learn more, visit birdsanctuary.kbs.msu.edu.
The Little Chicks programs will take place from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. on Thursdays, beginning on Sept. 10 and continuing through Nov. 19. Designed for parents looking for things to do after dropping off school-age children, Little Chicks presents an opportunity for parents to gather with their younger children, enjoy a walk or stroller ride along the Sanctuary’s 3/4-mile, accessible paved path, and engage in activities near the main entrance and in the sanctuary’s Overlook Building, which is located along the paved path.
The cost is free with regular admission to the Sanctuary: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, and $5 for children ages 2-17. Sanctuary members always get in free.
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary’s mission is to conserve native habitat for migratory and resident birds and to promote environmental awareness through research, education and outreach. Since 1928, the Sanctuary has served as a practical training school for animal care and land management, and remains an innovator in wildlife conservation efforts.
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is located at 12685 East C Ave., one mile north of M-89 and just west of 40th Street. To learn more, visit birdsanctuary.kbs.msu.edu.
Boost Your Landscape’s Beauty with Fall Planting
Plant daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and other bulbs in fall for additional color next spring.
Photo courtesy MelindaMyers.com
By Melinda Myers
Add some immediate and long-term beauty to the landscape with fall plantings. The soil is warm and the air cooler, making it easier for plants to adapt to their new location and more comfortable for gardeners.
Replace fading annuals and fill voids in the garden with pansies, snapdragons, ornamental kale, stocks and other cool weather plants. Use cold hardy pansies that provide color in the fall garden, survive most winters, and come back blooming in the spring just as the snow melts. Pop in a few pumpkins, decorative squash and gourds for a bit of fall flair.
Create or purchase container gardens filled with fall favorites. Set them by a front entrance or on a patio, balcony, or deck. Gardeners will enjoy this last bit of color, and the pollinators will enjoy the nectar and pollen as fall fades to winter.
Consider making a few permanent changes with perennials, trees, and shrubs. Use them to enhance an existing landscape or replace those that have outgrown their location or were damaged by this summer’s storms, extreme heat and drought. With the warmer soil and cooler air, plants are less stressed and establish more quickly.
Give new plants plenty of room to reach their mature size. Small transplants will eventually grow to large specimens. Temporarily fill the voids with annuals for immediate results. Each year, fewer are needed as the plants grow.
Plant trees so the root flare, the place where the roots curve away from the trunk, is even with or slightly above the soil surface. Dig a hole the same depth as the distance from the root flare to the bottom of the rootball. Make the hole two to five times wider than the rootball. Roughen the sides of the hole and backfill with the existing soil. Water thoroughly and spread a two-to-three-inch layer of mulch over the soil surface, keeping the mulch away from the tree trunk.
Follow a similar planting procedure for shrubs. Plant them so the crown, the place where the stems meet the roots, is even with the soil surface. Be sure to keep the mulch away from the stems.
Make sure all plantings are properly watered throughout the fall. It takes perennials, trees and shrubs several years to become fully established.
Call 811 at least three business days before digging. Visit 811bef oreyoudig.com/811-In-Your-Staten online. This free service will contact all the utility companies who will mark the location of their underground services in the work area. It’s an important step to reduce the risk of injury and the inconvenience and expense incurred if an owner damages a utility and does not make the call.
Plant daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and other bulbs in fall for extra color next spring. Add them to perennial and mixed borders. Start planting spring flowering bulbs after the nighttime temperatures hover between 40 and 50 degrees. Be patient, since waiting until the soil cools reduces the risk of early sprouting that often occurs during a warm fall.
Set the bulbs at a depth of two to three times their height deep. Check the label for recommended spacing specific to the type of bulbs. Then cover them with soil, sprinkle on a low nitrogen slow-release fertilizer, working it into the top few inches of the soil, and water.
If critters are digging and eating the bulbs, plant the ones they tend to ignore. Daffodils, hyacinths, fritillarias, alliums, snow drops, and grape hyacinths are a few to consider. Otherwise, protect animal favorites like tulips and crocus with repellent, chicken wire, or bulb cages at planting. Then in spring, apply repellent as the bulbs burst through the ground.
Take advantage of the fall weather and often slower gardening time to add beauty to the landscape with fall planting. It will reduce the workload next spring and provide welcome color throughout the growing season.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is MelindaMyers.com.
Add some immediate and long-term beauty to the landscape with fall plantings. The soil is warm and the air cooler, making it easier for plants to adapt to their new location and more comfortable for gardeners.
Replace fading annuals and fill voids in the garden with pansies, snapdragons, ornamental kale, stocks and other cool weather plants. Use cold hardy pansies that provide color in the fall garden, survive most winters, and come back blooming in the spring just as the snow melts. Pop in a few pumpkins, decorative squash and gourds for a bit of fall flair.
Create or purchase container gardens filled with fall favorites. Set them by a front entrance or on a patio, balcony, or deck. Gardeners will enjoy this last bit of color, and the pollinators will enjoy the nectar and pollen as fall fades to winter.
Consider making a few permanent changes with perennials, trees, and shrubs. Use them to enhance an existing landscape or replace those that have outgrown their location or were damaged by this summer’s storms, extreme heat and drought. With the warmer soil and cooler air, plants are less stressed and establish more quickly.
Give new plants plenty of room to reach their mature size. Small transplants will eventually grow to large specimens. Temporarily fill the voids with annuals for immediate results. Each year, fewer are needed as the plants grow.
Plant trees so the root flare, the place where the roots curve away from the trunk, is even with or slightly above the soil surface. Dig a hole the same depth as the distance from the root flare to the bottom of the rootball. Make the hole two to five times wider than the rootball. Roughen the sides of the hole and backfill with the existing soil. Water thoroughly and spread a two-to-three-inch layer of mulch over the soil surface, keeping the mulch away from the tree trunk.
Follow a similar planting procedure for shrubs. Plant them so the crown, the place where the stems meet the roots, is even with the soil surface. Be sure to keep the mulch away from the stems.
Make sure all plantings are properly watered throughout the fall. It takes perennials, trees and shrubs several years to become fully established.
Call 811 at least three business days before digging. Visit 811bef oreyoudig.com/811-In-Your-Staten online. This free service will contact all the utility companies who will mark the location of their underground services in the work area. It’s an important step to reduce the risk of injury and the inconvenience and expense incurred if an owner damages a utility and does not make the call.
Plant daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and other bulbs in fall for extra color next spring. Add them to perennial and mixed borders. Start planting spring flowering bulbs after the nighttime temperatures hover between 40 and 50 degrees. Be patient, since waiting until the soil cools reduces the risk of early sprouting that often occurs during a warm fall.
Set the bulbs at a depth of two to three times their height deep. Check the label for recommended spacing specific to the type of bulbs. Then cover them with soil, sprinkle on a low nitrogen slow-release fertilizer, working it into the top few inches of the soil, and water.
If critters are digging and eating the bulbs, plant the ones they tend to ignore. Daffodils, hyacinths, fritillarias, alliums, snow drops, and grape hyacinths are a few to consider. Otherwise, protect animal favorites like tulips and crocus with repellent, chicken wire, or bulb cages at planting. Then in spring, apply repellent as the bulbs burst through the ground.
Take advantage of the fall weather and often slower gardening time to add beauty to the landscape with fall planting. It will reduce the workload next spring and provide welcome color throughout the growing season.
—————
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is MelindaMyers.com.
Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in White-Tailed Deer
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reporting detections of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in farmed white-tailed deer in three counties, including one in Kent County.
An infected two and a half-year-old deer was discovered in Calhoun County, an infected four-year-old deer was detected in Kent County, and a three-year-old deer was found in Mackinac County. The first two herds were identified through the state’s CWD surveillance program for farmed deer and the third was found as part of trace investigations from the Calhoun County herd.
“These detections highlight why it is so vital to perform regular surveillance testing. Early detection allows for a prompt response, which helps limit the exposure of additional animals to this disease,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. “While regular CWD surveillance testing is central to response efforts, MDARD’s ongoing partnership with herd owners, hunters, and other state and federal partners is crucial to effectively managing this disease. Ensuring the health of Michigan’s farmed cervid population has been and continues to be a team effort.”
CWD is a progressive, fatal neurological disease that affects different cervid species, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. CWD can be transmitted directly from one animal to another and indirectly through the environment. While an infected animal may appear healthy for months or years, it will eventually display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss, and physical debilitation in the later stages of the disease.
The presence of CWD in farmed deer facilities is not new to Michigan; and prior to these latest detections, cases have been found across multiple counties, including Kent, Lake, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties.
As part of MDARD’s disease response, investigations are ongoing to rule out additional exposures to other farmed cervids.
Currently, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, as a precaution, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that CWD-infected animals should not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.
More information about CWD can be found at Michigan.gov/CWD or Michigan.gov/MDARD-Cervid.
An infected two and a half-year-old deer was discovered in Calhoun County, an infected four-year-old deer was detected in Kent County, and a three-year-old deer was found in Mackinac County. The first two herds were identified through the state’s CWD surveillance program for farmed deer and the third was found as part of trace investigations from the Calhoun County herd.
“These detections highlight why it is so vital to perform regular surveillance testing. Early detection allows for a prompt response, which helps limit the exposure of additional animals to this disease,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. “While regular CWD surveillance testing is central to response efforts, MDARD’s ongoing partnership with herd owners, hunters, and other state and federal partners is crucial to effectively managing this disease. Ensuring the health of Michigan’s farmed cervid population has been and continues to be a team effort.”
CWD is a progressive, fatal neurological disease that affects different cervid species, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. CWD can be transmitted directly from one animal to another and indirectly through the environment. While an infected animal may appear healthy for months or years, it will eventually display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss, and physical debilitation in the later stages of the disease.
The presence of CWD in farmed deer facilities is not new to Michigan; and prior to these latest detections, cases have been found across multiple counties, including Kent, Lake, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties.
As part of MDARD’s disease response, investigations are ongoing to rule out additional exposures to other farmed cervids.
Currently, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, as a precaution, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that CWD-infected animals should not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.
More information about CWD can be found at Michigan.gov/CWD or Michigan.gov/MDARD-Cervid.
