Tuesday, October 28, 2014

CWD Confirmed in Two New Wyoming Hunt Areas

LANDER - Testing by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has found chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease of deer, elk and moose, in a deer from Fremont County in Deer Hunt Area 36. This brings the known total of CWD deer hunt areas in the Lander Region to five; areas 36, 87, 97, 98 and 157.

Staff at the Game and Fish's wildlife disease laboratory in Laramie confirmed a mule deer doe was CWD positive. The animal was taken in Lysite after wardens investigated a report of the deer drooling excessively and appearing unhealthy.

Wildlife Disease Specialist Hank Edwards said, "It is not surprising to find a mule deer test positive for CWD in this area. She exhibited classic signs of the disease, and this hunt area is bordered by other deer hunt areas where we have previously documented CWD."

A second deer in a different hunt area also tested positive for CWD. A four-year old mule deer buck was taken by a deer hunter in deer hunt area 84 located south of Rawlins in Carbon County. Most of the adjoining deer hunt areas have previously documented cases of CWD.

Game and Fish personnel will continue to collect CWD samples through hunter field checks and at CWD sampling stations. 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. While CWD surveillance helps the Game and Fish monitor the disease, it also enables hunters to determine whether their harvested animal has CWD. Hunters should be aware that it may take a few weeks after their animal is sampled to get their test results.

"We appreciate the willingness of hunters to allow Game and Fish personnel to collect and submit samples from their harvested deer, elk and moose for CWD testing at our lab. This willingness helps us continue our surveillance program," Edwards said.

For more information on chronic wasting disease transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses please visit the Game and Fish website at: wgfd.wyo.gov.