The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources "humanely euthanized" more than 20 deer at Broadbent Wildlife Sanctuary on Aug. 26, officials said, citing violations of state regulations on deer rehabilitation.
The sanctuary, in Meade County about an hour outside Louisville, said it was raising 22 fawns. But rehabilitation of deer in the county violates regulations meant to curb the spread of a deadly infectious disease, according to the department, which said the facility was unpermitted and holding the deer illegally.
"Chronic Wasting Disease is an always-fatal neurological disease affecting white-tailed deer, elk and other animals in the deer family," a department spokesperson said in a statement. "There is no known cure or vaccine, and the disease can cause months or years of suffering for the infected animals. Movement of animals can increase the range of the disease over a greater area."
Meade, Breckinridge and Hardin counties are in state-designated surveillance zones for chronic wasting disease, where regulations prohibit deer rehabilitation. "The previous operator of the facility illegally accepted the animals into the facility's care," a department spokesperson said in a statement.
Chronic wasting disease has not been found to infect people, and scientists are unsure of whether people can be infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- although some research indicates a potential risk, possibly by consuming meat from an infected animal.
Broadbent Wildlife Sanctuary, in posts on social media, said staff were raising the fawns "with loving care, and followed the regulations associated with the care and rehab with these animals." The sanctuary also said the fawns "have not been exposed (to chronic wasting disease) nor will they ever leave our property."
There is not a reliable test for chronic wasting disease in live deer, according to the department, and the "only way to confirm CWD is to test tissues of an animal after it is dead." Even healthy-looking animals may be infected, "since it takes on average 16 months to develop symptoms."
Regulations on wildlife rehabilitation say a permit holder "shall not rehabilitate or attempt to rehabilitate" deer, or keep deer as "non-releasable wildlife," within established chronic wasting disease surveillance zones, such as Meade County.
The sanctuary tried to work with the department "to find legal alternatives," it said on social media, but ultimately "decided that we must allow" officials onto the property. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources oversees permits and regulations for wildlife rehabilitation.
"No one is more heartbroken than our staff who have raised these babies for months," the sanctuary said on social media, in addition to sharing a video of the fawns drinking from bottles on Aug. 24, two days before the euthanasia. Representatives from Broadbent Wildlife Sanctuary did not immediately provide comment to The Courier Journal.
Chronic wasting disease has been detected in wild deer in Ballard County and in a captive deer in Breckinridge County, according to the state. It has also been found in all seven of Kentucky's bordering states.
"Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is committed to protecting the health of the state's wild deer and elk herds," the department said in a statement. "While the agency regrets the need for euthanasia in this situation, regulations were put in place to limit the spread of CWD.
"The public is asked to avoid relocating a fawn or other baby animals from the wild in an attempt to rescue it. In almost all cases, the mother is nearby and the baby animal has not been abandoned."
This story may be updated. More information on chronic wasting disease is available here.
Connor Giffin is an environmental reporter at The Courier Journal. Reach him directly at [email protected] or on X @byconnorgiffin.