Hunters, landowners, and conservationists interested in managing chronic wasting disease in Iowa’s deer herd are encouraged to attend an education course at the Greene County Extension Office

Jefferson, IA – According to the state officials, the education course will be held at the Greene County Extension Office in Jefferson on June 9, 16, and 23.

State officials have announced that this program is called Chronic Wasting Disease Ambassadors and it’s hosted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, who will train participants in the science-based management of chronic wasting disease.

Officials also said that the course will cover best practices for preventing spread of the disease, how to collect tissue samples for testing, and how to educate others within their community, all in an effort to better educate Iowans on how to manage a healthy deer herd and slow the spread of the disease.

The course includes three in-person meetings from 6-8 p.m. and two online lessons completed between the in-person sessions. In-person sessions will include instruction and hands-on exercises related to the ecology of chronic wasting disease, sampling for the disease, and effective communication strategies.

Participants will also have the opportunity to network with area wildlife biologists. Graduates of the course will be given resources to help spread the word regarding effective chronic wasting disease management in their communities.

Registration is available here. or by contacting course facilitator Adam Janke at ajanke@iastate.edu or 515-294-7429 and is open until the week before the course starts, or until the class is filled (25 participants).

Dear Iowans, there is no cost to participate.