LONDON — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists plan to take additional samples from deer to search for chronic wasting disease in southern Pope County.
The samples will be taken from Aug. 1-5 as part of the commission's preparation for the deer hunting season's sampling period.
Assistant deer program coordinator Ralph Meeker said the commission hopes to get 300 samples from deer harvested by hunters in each of the 10 counties in the chronic wasting disease management zone.
[CWD IN ARKANSAS: Click here for full coverage of chronic wasting disease in state]
The zone consists of Boone, Carroll, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Pope, Searcy and Yell counties.
The fatal disease affects animals such as deer, elk and moose. Officials say at least 90 deer and four elk have tested positive for the disease since it was first confirmed in Arkansas in February.