Here are the most recent chronic wasting disease-positive animals found outside of the established area for chronic wasting disease.
Four more elk and three deer from outside of the established area for chronic wasting disease have tested positive in the last month.
The positive animals were:
– Two cow elk taken Nov. 25 and Nov. 29 in game management unit 18 north of Hot Sulphur Springs. – Two cow elk taken in game management unit 211 north of Meeker; one of those was harvested Nov. 7 by a hunter, the other was a sickly animal killed Nov. 29 as a suspected positive by a Division of Wildlife officer. These are the first positive elk found in this unit, although positive mule deer already have been found there. – Two doe mule deer taken by hunters Dec. 11 in game management unit 461 in Jefferson County northeast of the Pike National Forest. – A road-killed mule deer picked up Dec. 19 by a Division of Wildlife officer along Hwy. 13 in game management unit 211.
For more precise harvest location information, see the map on the Division of Wildlife’s Web site at http://wildlife.state.co.us/CWD/Detected_CWDMap.jpg indicating where CWD-positive animals have been found.
The Division of Wildlife has notified the hunters who killed the animals, and their license fees will be refunded.
To date, hunters have submitted 25,890 animals for testing, and tests have been completed and released on 24,864. From all harvest sources, including hunters, road kills and culling, CWD has been detected in 233 animals, including 55 outside of the established area of northeastern Colorado (including the most recent positives).
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease of deer and elk that has been found in portions of northeastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming for more than two decades. State and federal health officials have found no connection between CWD and any human illness. But as a precaution, hunters are advised not to eat meat from diseased animals.
Hunters may submit animals for testing at Division of Wildlife offices around the state and at the offices of some veterinarians. For a complete list of submission sites and for more information about chronic wasting disease, visit the Division’s Web site at www.wildlife.state.co.us or call a Division of Wildlife office.
Testing is voluntary for hunters outside the CWD established area in a portion of northeastern Colorado and costs $17. Deer and elk hunters in the established area are required to submit their animals for testing, and the test is free.
To ensure testing accuracy, the animal’s head should be kept cool so the tissue sample to be tested is in good condition. Do not allow the head to rest in water and do not freeze the head. Samples that have spoiled cannot be accurately tested.
The Division of Wildlife will call all hunters whose animals test positive. Hunters who wish to see the results for themselves can find them on the Division’s Web site. Click on “chronic wasting disease” on the left-hand side, then click on “CWD Test Results” and enter the submission numbers.
Hunters also may check the results for themselves by calling the CWD hot line. The CWD hot line number is (800) 434-0274. Hunters will need the head submission number from the test form to activate the automated response system.
For more information on CWD, testing and the most recent news on the disease, see the Division of Wildlife’s Chronic Wasting Disease Web page at http://wildlife.state.co.us/cwd