MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Chronic Wasting Disease is still an epidemic threatening Mid-Michigan's deer population.

So far over 4,000 deer have been tested from the tri-county interest zone of Clinton, Ingham, and Shiawassee Counties. More than 700 of those deer have been from Meridian Township. However, researcher have yet to determine if the disease can be eradicated or if it here to stay.

"But we're not going to give up until we definitively know if it is established. Because if it is established than we're going to have to live with it for decades, and you don't want to look back and, say 'boy, if we had done just a little bit more then we could have kept it from becoming established," said Steve Schmitt, DVM, MDNR Wildlife Disease Lab.

Because of the need for more deer, professional United States Department of Agriculture sharpshooters have been called in. The sharpshooters will be removing deer from private landowners' properties as well as some township-owned properties. As such, the Meridian Township Police Department asks residents to make extra sure to not enter Township parks after sundown.

"The public should be aware that the emphasis of the USDA is safety. They're not going to put anyone at risk just so that they can harvest a deer for testing," said Lieutenant Ken Plaga, Meridian Township Police

Anyone interested in helping the effort can report road-killed deer for collection by calling the DNR Wildlife Disease Hotline at 517-614-9602. Researchers are especially interested in deer from Dewitt and Waterford Townships.