State conservation department given special permission to mitigate spread of ‘zombie deer disease’

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal City Council unanimously approved Tuesday night to grant the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) an exemption from the city’s prohibition of firearm use for their efforts in preventing the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD).

Hannibal Police Chief Jacob Nacke appeared before the council with Chris Williamson of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to discuss the use of firearms within city limits — prohibited with the exception of use by police officers and on-duty soldiers — to “harvest” deer to test for CWD. The disease, confirmed by Louderman to recently have been found in a deer within city limits, is 100 percent fatal, affects multiple Cervid species and also is known as “zombie deer disease.” 

“(Chronic wasting) affects their brain — the central nervous system — and they stop eating, they become disoriented and literally waste away,” Williamson said.

The National Deer Association says the disease eats away at the brain during an intubation period of 18 to 24 months. Rapid weight loss (“wasting”) and emaciation, lack of coordination, loss of fear of humans and drooling are a few symptoms. Affected animals often die of related but indirect causes (such as incoordination, resulting in fatal vehicle collision or confusion, and emaciation, resulting in increased vulnerability to predators).

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated that as of February 2024, the disease had been identified in 32 states and four Canadian provinces. The CDC also said the proteins that cause CWD can “stay in soil and water for years.” Studies that sought to determine the risk posed to animals who consume CWD-infected meat have found contradictory results. There is currently “no strong evidence” that the disease infects people, but the inconclusive results of such studies suggest humans should avoid eating CWD-infected deer or elk meat — just in case.

Louderman said the deer that tested positive for CWD was euthanised.

“It’s better to find the solution now than to wait for there to be dead deer all over the street,” he said.

Louderman issued a special proclamation to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Riedel Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has awarded roughly $7.5 million in grants to local non-profit agencies that serve the Hannibal Community which “have helped fund scholarships, feed hungry senior citizens, combat homelessness, support education, improve health and safety, provide recreation, allow the arts to flourish and so much more.”

The meeting opened with comments from Steven Meyer, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1211, who addressed the council to share his gratitude for their ability to find a short-term fix for the Hannibal Fire Department’s retention issues. He reminded them, though, that it was indeed just a short-term fix and that more action will soon be necessary.

Tuesday night was the council’s fourth meeting in a row without a 5th Ward councilmember since Colin Welch’s resignation in January. The city is accepting letters of interest for the position until 10 a.m. Feb. 25. 

In other news, the council also:

• Approved a special events application for a fundraising event hosted by Down Country to take place in August pending a review of insurance requirements;
• Approved an agreement for maintenance on the city’s website with Osborne Barr and Paramore for $3,350;
• Approved a revised lease agreement with the Mark Twain Home Foundation, which included property ownership corrections and excluded the portion of land that the Molly Brown House sits on and the Tom and Huck statue; and
• Approved a resolution to authorize the mayor to execute a lease agreement between the city and Chase Goldinger for temporary agricultural use of airport property in the amount of $12,500 annually from 2025 to 2029.