There is no cure for the disease, a brain disorder that attacks some species of cervid (the deer family) - though it has not been found in reindeer. The spread of chronic wasting disease, or CWD, has panicked wildlife agencies across the country. And we're not taking ours off the farm' this year. 'I have one month of the year to get any income from them. 'It translates to dollars,' said Adelhardt, who has owned Applewood for 28 years and added reindeer two years ago. More than half of the states have restricted the importation of these cold-weather cousins of Comet, Cupid and the rest, kept on farms year-round and trotted out in December for some extra cash and cheer. Because of fears of chronic wasting disease, which is devastating deer herds in the West, Maryland officials are rushing to close the state's borders to the animals, dashing many reindeer-themed Christmas displays.