St. Louis County bans new deer, elk farms

The St. Louis County board voted to prohibit new cervid farms in the county in an effort to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease, effective immediately. The unanimous vote updated the county’s zoning ordinance to allow existing cervid farms to continue to operate, while prohibiting expansion of those existing farms.

Chronic wasting disease affects deer, elk, and moose. The disease is fatal to animals and there are no treatments or vaccines. It may take over a year before an infected animal develops symptoms, which can include drastic weight loss (wasting), stumbling, listlessness and other neurologic symptoms. Some infected animals can die without ever showing signs of the disease.

The county had been operating under a one-year temporary moratorium, which would have expired at the end of last month. During the past year, the planning commission considered options ranging from a complete ban, to doing nothing, or requiring a conditional use permit for new cervid farms.

Carlton County joins St. Louis County and others in the prohibition of new or expanded cervid farms.