A Pennsylvania Game Commission officer is urging residents to stop feeding deer and remain vigilant for signs of chronic wasting disease, a fast-spreading illness now confirmed in Carbon and Luzerne counties.

Game Warden Dillon Gruver delivered that message during a presentation to residents at Indian Mountain Lake, where he outlined the growing concern about CWD and the risks of attracting wildlife into residential areas.

“We want to give membership knowledge of the adverse effects of wildlife feeding in a community setting,” Gruver said.

Gruver explained that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is responsible for natural resource conservation, hunting-related law enforcement and public education.

As part of that mission, wardens have been giving presentations on CWD to community groups, schools and neighborhood associations throughout the region.

Chronic wasting disease was discovered in Luzerne and Carbon counties in 2025. The disease affects white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family, including elk and moose.

CWD is highly contagious and can incubate for 18 to 24 months before symptoms appear. Infected deer often show signs only in the final months of life, when they become emaciated and their hip bones protrude.

To monitor the spread, the Game Commission established Disease Management Areas where road-killed deer and harvested animals are tested.

Hunters can have deer tested for free using collection “head bins” placed throughout the region.

“We don’t recommend eating deer in the area unless it has been tested,” Gruver said. “We recommend hunters dispose of the meat if tested positive for CWD. Hunting is important but we need to monitor and mitigate the disease.”

Approved meat processors are also available within the Disease Management Areas.

Gruver said the disease can persist in the environment for years. Saliva from infected deer can remain active in soil for up to a decade, increasing the risk of transmission.

Because feeding sites cause deer to gather closely together, the game commission strongly discourages residents from putting out food.

“In 2020, about 8% of deer tested were positive for CWD,” Gruver said. “That percentage surpassed 32% in 2024.”

Beyond spreading disease, feeding deer can also harm the animals’ health. Deer typically get all the nutrition they need from natural forage, and their digestive systems are not designed to process large amounts of corn.

“People may think giving only a handful of their corn is OK, but if everyone is doing that, it becomes a bigger issue,” Gruver said, noting the unnatural diet can cause health problems, including hoof curl.

Resident Kelly McMally said she adjusted her own practices after learning about the risks.

“I stopped buying deer corn,” she said, explaining that she switched to sweet seed and alfalfa bales after learning corn was not a healthy food source.

Gruver also reminded residents not to interfere with young wildlife. Fawns are often left alone for long periods while their mothers forage.

“Fawns left alone will cry, possibly for hours,” he said. “It is recommended not to intervene as it is more than likely the mom is around and she bedded the fawn there.”

The separation helps keep predators from locating the young deer, he said. If a fawn appears abandoned for 24 to 48 hours, residents can contact the game commission.

The agency maintains a 24-hour dispatch center at 833-PGC-WILD (833-742-9553) for reports of sick deer, injured wildlife or roadkill. Information is also available on the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.