MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Recently a deer with Chronic Wasting Disease was found in Meridian Township, but what exactly does that mean for residents and the rest of the deer population?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture began the process of deer culling in the evening hours at approved Meridian Township properties.

“Chronic Wasting Disease is transmitted from animal to animal contact, so by reducing the herd size that reduces the number of animals that can have contact with each other and potentially reduce the spreading of the disease,” said Ken Plaga, Meridian Township Police Lieutenant.

Right now the professional sharpshooters are only taking bucks in for testing.

“And with that we have USDA Wildlife Services going in and shooting deer out of a two mile radius from where the deer was initially located,” said Department of Natural Resources Deer Specialist, Chad Stewart. "It seems to be a cervid-specific disease, so deer, elk, moose, are the only ones that that are going to contract this."

Consuming venison is discouraged by the U.S. Center for Disease Control with the total process taking up to a few years to complete.

“We are probably going to be doing surveillance for CWD for at least three years, and maybe longer depending on how many more positives we find, so we’re in this for the long haul,” said Stewart.

To report a suspicious-looking deer, call the DNR Wildlife Disease Lab at (517)-336-5030 or if it's an emergency dial 911.