The Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer hunt area 152, approximately 12 miles west of Bondurant on Willow Creek.
10/2/2019 10:02:31 PM
Cheyenne – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer hunt area 152, approximately
12 miles west of Bondurant on Willow Creek. The mule deer buck that
tested positive was hunter-harvested. This is the first time CWD has
been found in deer hunt area 152, part of the Sublette mule deer herd,
and is in a hunt area close to wintering elk feedgrounds. CWD is a fatal
neurological disease of deer, elk and moose.
“Seeing
a deer test positive for CWD west of the continental divide again is
concerning,” said Scott Edberg, deputy chief of wildlife. “Game and Fish
is always concerned about the spread of CWD. We have conducted CWD
surveillance for more than two decades and have focused efforts on
monitoring the disease and those methods continue this year.”
CWD
has been previously detected in mule deer nearby hunt area 152- one
north of Afton in 2016, one south of Pinedale in 2017 and one north of
Jackson in 2018.
CWD has not been detected in elk wintering on any of Wyoming’s 22 feedgrounds or the National Elk Refuge to date. Game
and Fish and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have provided
supplemental feed to elk during the winter months for more than 100
years. Feedgrounds maintain elk population objectives while also
maximizing separation of elk from cattle to prevent property damage and
minimize brucellosis transmission to cattle. However, feedgrounds
concentrate large numbers of elk in small areas for several months,
increasing the potential for the spread of diseases among elk, including
CWD. Currently in Wyoming the prevalence rate of CWD in elk is
typically less than in deer.
Knowing
this, Game and Fish will continue several initiatives related to elk
feedgrounds and CWD, including CWD personnel and surveillance on elk
feedgrounds and surrounding winter range. Game and Fish delays feeding
as late as possible into the winter and discontinues feeding early in
the spring to lower transmission possibility between elk. Game and Fish
disease biologists and seasonal CWD sample technicians in the Jackson
and Pinedale regions focus specifically on monitoring and management.
Any
animal exhibiting potential symptoms of CWD is lethally removed and
sampled. Game wardens, wildlife biologists and other employees are
trained to collect CWD samples whenever possible (e.g. hunter-killed
animals, vehicle-killed animals and targeted removals) in an effort to
maximize sample collection and associated disease detection.
Education is also a large component of monitoring CWD. Game and Fish has a website to inform hunters of current CWD protocols and connect the public to wildlife managers. Further, Game and Fish is in the midst of revising the agency’s CWD management plan through a public collaborative process.
Next year, Game and Fish will conduct a public process for a management
plan specifically geared toward managing CWD on feedgrounds.
“When CWD is found on elk feedgrounds, we will all be faced with some difficult discussions
regarding elk management in western Wyoming,” said Brad Hovinga, Jackson regional wildlife
supervisor. “Game and Fish has been working to lay the groundwork to minimize impacts and
be prepared, but we realize this is a serious wildlife dilemma where solutions will require broad
public support and a collaborative approach that includes help from partner agencies, elected
officials, sportspersons, the general public and local communities.”
Game
and Fish reminds hunters and the public they play a significant role in
monitoring the distribution of this disease and provide valuable
information for managing CWD. If you see a deer, elk or moose that
appears to be sick or not acting in a normal manner, please contact your local game warden, wildlife biologist or Game and Fish office immediately.
Please visit the Game and Fish website for more information on chronic wasting disease transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses.
The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization
recommend that people should not eat deer, elk or moose that test
positive for CWD.
(Sara DiRienzo (307-777-4540))
– WGFD –
Article courtesy Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Article can be found here: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/News/CWD-found-in-deer-west-of-Continental-Divide