"Soils with more than 18 percent clay were associated with a steep drop in cases of the disease.
"Clay can tend to immobilize molecules, and we think at these higher concentrations, clay is holding onto the prions so they're not bioavailable," Dorak says.
Soil pH was also influential, with more cases of the disease at a pH greater than 6.6. Again, changes in soil pH may relate to how "sticky" the soil environment is for prions. Above pH 6.6, prions don't stick as well to the soil and are free to be picked up by curious deer."
Well - if this part of the study IS correct..... It sure would be a major advantage down by me!!!! Everything by me.... "CLAY LOAM" of some type. A big majority. PH is generally around the 5.8-6.5 mark depending on management as well. I guess I'm home free!!!
This whole issue is just simply confusing though. Is it about "how many deer it kills”???..... let’s think through this at least at some basic level....
With no cure & its ability to transfer from birds & the "almost" inevitable reality it's going to be EVERYWHERE (much like it has been out west FOREVER)...... I'm not even seeing an avenue to do anything about this. I mean, you'd literally have to keep a deer from making a scrape which is going to have bucks and does with their faces in it all fall long.
If it's about deer deaths...... EHD also has no cure and also has been around for ages. Which kills more: EHD or CWD? Come on, EHD by a looooonnnngggg shot. Do we take "EHD AREAS" and get sharp shooters out or leave the deer season open for 6 months? NO.
Both have no cure, both kill whitetails. Both have been around for ages. I hear the concern, I get it, I really do..... BUT...... Give me a valid solution?!?!?! I don't see one. I really don't. NOTHING, NADA, ZERO. Shooting all the deer...... I just don't buy it, I don't. Not when birds can move it around and it's in the soil FOREVER.