Published: October 14, 2008 08:00 pm      

Town hall meetings to address CWD

GRAYLING -- State natural resources officials will host a series of town hall meetings across the state about chronic wasting disease and the state's response plan.

Meetings will be held in Kalamazoo, Marquette, Frankenmuth and Grayling.

The meetings will begin with presentations from the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture and will be followed by question-and-answer sessions facilitated by the Michigan State University Extension.

The state's first case of CWD was confirmed in August at a private Kent County deer facility and it remains unknown how the animal became infected. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk and moose and is transmitted by exposure to saliva of infected animals.

As a response, state officials enforced a ban on deer baiting and feeding in the Lower Peninsula, prior to the annual archery and firearms deer hunting seasons.

The Grayling meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 at Grayling High School, 1135 North Old U.S. 27.