Fewer hunters are opting to test deer and elk heads for chronic wasting disease. For now, state wildlife officials have shelved plans to expand a statewide disposal system that would have included a new incinerator in Larimer County. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) will not proceed with plans to Read more
Wildlife and agriculture officials are calling for the destruction of a captive elk herd at a Western Slope hunting ranch after an animal died and tested positive for chronic wasting disease last week. “I think both the state Agriculture (Department) and U.S. Department of Agriculture, along with the Colorado Division Read more
Fewer harvests mean fewer animals tested for chronic wasting disease in 2003. Fewer deer and elk were tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Colorado in 2003, a reflection of a lower deer and elk harvests in many areas of the state, according to statistics complied by the Colorado Division Read more
ESTES PARK – The mule deer buck, his impressive rack silhouetted against the Continental Divide, pursued a doe across a grassy resort lawn in a timeless Rocky Mountain drama. The buck’s thick neck was swollen by hormones released during the rut. His sleek coat and thick antlers spoke of a Read more
Unseasonably mild weather through much of Colorado’s big game hunting season has hindered harvest, and therefor lowering the number of animals submitted for CWD testing. Unseasonably warm, dry weather over much of Colorado this fall has substantially reduced the big-game harvest and the number of animals submitted for testing for Read more
Colorado hunters can obtain chronic wasting disease test results quickly, easily and without cost via the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s 24-hour interactive telephone hotline or from the agency’s Web site. Wildlife officials encourage hunters to take full advantage of the automated systems. Hunters can obtain chronic wasting disease test results Read more
Colorado Biologists Continue to Track Distribution of Fatal Wildlife Disorder Continuing their search for better information on distribution and occurrence of chronic wasting disease(CWD) in Colorado’s deer and elk herds, state wildlife officials are implementing a new electronic network of handheld computers to streamline surveillance of the fatal neurological disorder. Read more
To keep ahead of the crush of deer and elk heads submitted by hunters for chronic wasting disease tests this year, the state Division of Wildlife and Colorado State University have four tools they hope will speed up the process. • The Ribolyzer, which the labs can use to grind Read more
The state Division of Wildlife no longer will be allowed to dump deer and elk with chronic wasting disease in the Larimer County landfill. The decision was made by county commissioners who “felt not enough is known about the disease to allow wildlife officials to continue disposing of CWD-positive carcasses Read more
Herd owners say state underpaid for animals killed Ten former elk ranchers filed a $5 million lawsuit Friday against the state Department of Agriculture for compensation they say is owed after their herds were condemned and killed last year. The condemnation came after chronic wasting disease was discovered in their Read more