By Blake Jackson
Like many Kentuckians, a research team from the University of Kentucky’s Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) is focused on tracking deer.
Unlike hunters, however, the researchers release the deer after fitting them with GPS collars to study their movements and assess the potential spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
CWD is a fatal brain disease that affects deer and other cervids. Infected animals can spread the disease through direct contact or environmental contamination long before showing symptoms such as weight loss, confusion, and repetitive movements. As of Oct. 29, 2025, two cases of CWD have been confirmed in wild deer in Kentucky.
Led by John Cox, professor of wildlife and conservation biology, and Matthew Springer, associate Extension professor of wildlife management, the study is supported by a $226,000 award from KDFWR.
“We’re working to come up with surveillance protocols and management strategies to help preserve the resource that white-tailed deer are in our state, as well as the potential for public health knowledge with a disease that's not necessarily an immediate threat but could be in the future,” Springer said.
Over two years, researchers will place 120 GPS collars on deer using various capture methods, including helicopter net-gunning, clover traps, and drop nets. “There’s a lot of patience involved - a lot like hunting,” said Haley Taylor, an FNR graduate student managing data collection and analysis.
The research not only aids wildlife management but also provides valuable field experience for UK students. “Actually seeing it in practice done by the state agency that's in charge of managing this resource is something that's really hard to emulate in a classroom,” Springer added.
Joe McDermott, KDFWR deer program coordinator and UK alumnus, emphasized the value of hands-on learning: “It's a fun job. I don't generally hate Mondays. But at the same time, it's a very competitive field.”
The CWD tracking project, which continues through at least 2027, helps shape future disease management strategies while preparing the next generation of wildlife professionals.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-imagixian
Categories: Kentucky, Education, General