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Libby council renews resolution authorizing deer harvest on city land for CWD testing
Summary
The council approved Resolution 2051 authorizing law enforcement and Fish, Wildlife & Parks to harvest deer on city property for chronic wasting disease sampling; the resolution notes a 2019 positive sample from inside city limits and requires caution to avoid injury to persons or property.
The Libby City Council approved Resolution 2051 authorizing city and county law enforcement and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks personnel to harvest deer on city-owned property for the purpose of collecting samples to test for chronic wasting disease (CWD).
The resolution renews authority previously adopted by the City of Libby and justifies the action by citing a 2019 white-tailed deer removed from inside the city that tested positive for CWD. The text states the authority shall continue until rescinded and requires personnel exercising the authority to take care to prevent injury to people and property.
A council liaison to Fish, Wildlife & Parks noted past harvests often came from outside city limits and that the current effort aims to focus sampling on resident deer inside the city and to use additional city properties for trapping and sampling. The council opened the item for public comment and took a recorded voice vote; the motion passed.
Why it matters: CWD is a progressive, fatal disease in cervids that can cause population-level impacts if left unmanaged; urban resident deer can affect local hunting and management strategies. The resolution is an operational step to gather prevalence data to inform Fish & Wildlife management actions.
The council did not specify exact trap locations in the resolution text presented at the meeting; details on timing, numbers of animals to be sampled and specific operational plans were not specified on the record.
