The Silent Threat: How Chronic Wasting Disease Could Reshape Suffolk County’s Deer Management Forever

Suffolk County’s deer population has long been a delicate balancing act between conservation efforts and public safety concerns. However, a new threat looms on the horizon that could fundamentally change how local authorities approach deer management: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This devastating neurological disease has the potential to dramatically impact not only Suffolk County’s deer populations but also the entire ecosystem and the pest control industry that supports healthy wildlife management.

Understanding the CWD Threat

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal disease found in deer, elk, and moose that poses a serious threat to wild populations. CWD is a deadly disease that can spread in deer, elk, and moose populations. CWD damages portions of the brain and typically causes progressive loss of body condition, behavioral changes, excessive salivation (drooling), and death. The cause of the disease is suspected to be a type of prion (protein infectious particle) that is found in some tissues of infected animals. The illness is caused by misfolded infectious proteins called prions, which are extremely resilient and can persist in the environment for years.

As of April 2025, Chronic Wasting Disease has been reported in 36 states in the United States. Cases have occurred in all four regions of the country (West, Midwest, South, Northeast). Most concerning for Suffolk County residents is that CWD was first discovered within New York in captive and wild deer in Oneida County in 2005. New York is the only state to have eliminated CWD. However, recent developments suggest this success story may be under threat.

Recent CWD Developments in New York

In fall 2024, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) confirmed the presence of CWD, a fatal disease affecting deer and moose, at a captive deer facility in the town of Columbia, Herkimer County. After confirming the case, DEC sampled 196 wild deer in the surrounding area and found no sign of the disease. While this outbreak was contained to central New York, it serves as a stark reminder that CWD remains a persistent threat to all deer populations across the state, including those in Suffolk County.

Suffolk County’s Unique Deer Management Challenges

Suffolk County faces particularly complex deer management issues. The dramatic increase in the white-tailed deer population within the Town of Southold has resulted in widespread landscape damage and crop losses, as well as an increase in Lyme disease and deer/car collisions. Southold Town’s Deer Management Program is the most efficient and effective means currently available for reducing Southold’s deer population.

The expanded seasons are necessary to help increase recreational deer harvest to better manage increasing deer populations in Suffolk County. Current management strategies include the NYSDEC Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) and the NYSDEC Deer Damage Permit “Nuisance” Program (DDP). Through both of these programs, additional anterless deer tags are issued and only licensed resident bow hunters are eligible to participate.

How CWD Could Impact Current Management Strategies

The introduction of CWD to Suffolk County would necessitate a complete overhaul of current deer management practices. If CWD is detected in New York, deer populations in affected areas would need to be reduced through hunting and culling. Movement and disposal of deer carcasses would also be restricted. CWD is always fatal to deer and if introduced to wild populations, may spread rapidly, and is nearly impossible to eliminate once established.

Infected animals transmit the disease through animal-to-animal contact and/or contamination of feed or water sources with saliva, urine, and feces of infected animals. Soil and plants can also be contaminated with CWD prions when infected animal carcasses decay as well as from feces or urine from infected animals. Prions can stick to soil and plants and continue to spread in the environment for years. This environmental persistence would make traditional management areas potentially unusable for extended periods.

The Role of Professional Pest Control Services

In the event of a CWD outbreak, professional pest control and wildlife management services would become more crucial than ever. Companies like Jones Tree & Plant Care, which already provides comprehensive Deer Control Suffolk County, NY services, would need to adapt their approaches to include CWD prevention protocols.

As a licensed arborist, Jones is committed to offering scientifically based landscape management and delivering quality services. Jones Tree and Plant Care will inspect your landscape, diagnose any problems, and make recommendations based on knowledge and expertise gained through over 10 years of experience in the industry. As a certified arborist, Jones receives continuous education and instruction, and is always up to date on the latest trends and techniques.

We take a total tree and plant care approach to enrich the condition of your soil, improve the growth of your plantings, and increase the overall appearance of your Nassau or Suffolk County property. We are committed to offering treatments that are effective, yet safe for the environment, and affordable to you. This commitment to environmentally safe practices would be essential in managing landscapes that could potentially harbor CWD prions.

Prevention and Preparedness

DEC and NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets are actively implementing strategies to minimize the risk of CWD being introduced into New York. DEC implements a strategic, risk-based CWD surveillance program annually to identify CWD outbreaks early when the likelihood of eliminating the outbreak are highest, focusing on the animals and locations of greatest risk.

Property owners in Suffolk County can take proactive steps to support these prevention efforts. Something as simple as not feeding wild deer could provide a necessary precaution from possible expansion of the disease. Feeding deer unnaturally concentrates animals around a food source and it potentially could be a way for disease transmission to occur.

Looking Ahead

While Suffolk County has not yet faced a CWD outbreak, the recent case in central New York serves as a wake-up call. The county’s extensive deer management programs, combined with professional pest control services, provide a strong foundation for responding to this potential threat. However, success will depend on continued vigilance, early detection, and rapid response protocols.

For property owners concerned about deer management and potential CWD risks, working with experienced professionals who understand both traditional deer control methods and emerging disease threats will be essential. The integration of scientific expertise, environmental stewardship, and practical pest control solutions will be key to protecting Suffolk County’s ecosystem for future generations.

As we face this evolving challenge, the partnership between state agencies, local municipalities, and professional service providers like Jones Tree & Plant Care will be more important than ever in maintaining the delicate balance between wildlife conservation and public safety.