GREEN RIVER – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance program has found the disease in a new deer hunt area. CWD is a fatal neurological disease of deer, elk and moose.
Staff at the Game and Fish Department’s wildlife disease laboratory in Laramie confirmed the presence of CWD in a buck mule deer harvested on Oct. 2 near Flat Top Mountain, in deer hunt area 100, which lies about 15 miles northwest of Baggs. Deer hunt area 100 is bordered by CWD positive deer hunt areas 82 and 84 to the east and 98 to the northeast.
“This is our first new positive hunt area this year. We again appreciate the help of hunters who help with the surveillance program. We do recommend people not eat deer, elk or moose that test positive for CWD,” Deputy Chief of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Wildlife Division, Scott Edberg said.
Green River region personnel continue to collect samples of deer, elk and moose through hunter field checks and at CWD sampling stations. WGFD personnel collect and analyze more than 1,600 CWD samples annually throughout the state.
Hunters who wish to have their deer, elk or moose tested for CWD outside of the department’s CWD surveillance program can to do so by contacting the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab at (307) 766-9925. Hunters should be aware that it may take a few weeks after their animal is sampled to get their test results.
For more information on chronic wasting disease transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses please visit the Game and Fish website at: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Wildlife-Disease/Chronic-Wasting-Disease/CWD-Disease-Info.