The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease in two new deer hunt areas and one new elk hunt area in the state.
The disease was confirmed from lymph node samples submitted by hunters.
CWD was confirmed in mule deer bucks harvested near Deadman Creek and in Soda Lake Meadows in northwest Wyoming.
Game and Fish has conducted surveillance for CWD in statewide Wyoming for more than two decades. In recent years CWD has been detected in more deer and elk hunt areas in northwestern Wyoming. Wildlife managers believe CWD is likely to be documented in new areas of the state in deer and elk.
Scott Edberg, deputy chief of the wildlife division said that while the prevalence of CWD in northwestern Wyoming is lower than in other parts of Wyoming, it remains a concern.
In the Cody Region Game and Fish confirmed the presence of the disease in Elk Hunt Area 41 from a hunter-harvested bull. elk.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends hunters do not consume any animal that is obviously ill or tests positive for CWD.
A map of CWD endemic areas is available on the Game and Fish website. The disease is 100% fatal to deer, elk and moose.
Throughout the fall, Game and Fish has been asking hunters to collect lymph node samples from harvested deer and elk for CWD testing in focused monitoring hunt areas across Wyoming.
“Each CWD sample we receive is valuable for monitoring and understanding the disease,” said Hank Edwards, Game and Fish Wildlife Health Laboratory supervisor. “Please make an effort to submit a CWD sample of your harvest.”
In 2020, Game and Fish personnel tested over 6,000 samples and, so far, over 1,700 samples have been tested in 2021.
Please visit the Game and Fish website for more information on chronic wasting disease testing, transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses.
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