Ticks Role In Chronic Wasting Disease

If you’ve spent any time managing land, you’ve probably heard of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). It’s one of the most serious threats to animal populations today—and recent research suggests ticks may play a role in spreading it. Let’s break down what CWD is, why it’s dangerous, and how you can help protect your herd.

What is Chronic Wasting Disease?

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk, and other cervids. It’s caused by abnormal proteins called prions, which damage the brain and nervous system over time. Infected animals often look healthy in the early stages but eventually start showing:

• Extreme weight loss (“wasting”)

• Confusion or odd behavior

• Drooping ears, head, or body posture

• Excessive salivation and thirst

Unfortunately, once an animal is infected, there’s no cure. CWD always leads to death, and because it spreads silently before symptoms appear, it’s tough to control once it’s in a population.

Where is CWD Found?

CWD was first discovered in Colorado in the 1960s and has since spread across many U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Today, it’s confirmed in more than 30 states, with higher concentrations in parts of the Midwest.

The disease can be transmitted through direct animal contact (like saliva or bodily fluids) or indirectly through contaminated soil, plants, or water. And now, emerging research suggests there’s another potential player in the spread—ticks.

The Tick Connection

Ticks are notorious for carrying diseases like Lyme and anaplasmosis, but now scientists are studying whether they can also carry prions responsible for CWD. While research is ongoing, early findings indicate that ticks feeding on infected animals can pick up and potentially spread prions to new hosts.

This makes sense—ticks are highly mobile between animals, and they’re experts at finding new hosts. Even if ticks aren’t the primary cause of CWD spread, they’re another risk factor for keeping your herd healthy.

Why CWD is So Dangerous

CWD doesn’t just affect individual deer—it threatens entire populations. Because it spreads slowly and silently, it can devastate herds before land managers even realize there’s a problem. Worse yet, prions can persist in the environment for years, making it extremely difficult to eliminate once it’s established.

For hunters, landowners, and wildlife managers, preventing the spread is the best—and sometimes only—option.

How Healthy Herd Helps Protect Your Animals

This is where Healthy Herd Liquid comes in. Our all-in-one supplement doesn’t just improve nutrition and parasite defense—it’s also designed to kill and repel ticks. By applying Healthy Herd Liquid to your feed, you:

Reduce tick populations around your animals

Help prevent tick-borne disease transmission

Ensure animals are consistently consuming minerals and anti-parasitic compounds

Support overall herd health and immune function

The result? Fewer ticks, stronger animals, and lower risk of disease spread.

CWD is a serious threat, but taking proactive steps to protect your animals can make a huge difference. By reducing tick populations and boosting nutrition, you’re not just improving your herd—you’re helping safeguard their future.

Take Action Today

Don’t wait for CWD to become a problem in your area. Get ahead of the risk with Healthy Herd Liquid, the easy, effective way to improve animal health while fighting ticks.

Have questions? Want to learn more about how Healthy Herd works? Reach out—we’re here to help you grow a healthier, stronger herd.