CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said on Monday that chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in an elk hunt area north of Dubois.
A positive test from a hunter-harvested cow elk confirmed the presence of the disease in Elk Hunt Area 67. That hunt area overlays Deer Hunt Area 128 where the presence of chronic wasting disease was detected in 2016, according to Game and Fish.
Chronic wasting disease is fatal to deer, elk and moose. Game and Fish offers maps showing areas where the disease has been confirmed online.
“To ensure that hunters are informed, Game and Fish announces when CWD is found in a new hunt area,” the department said. “The Centers for Disease Control recommends hunters do not consume any animal that is obviously ill or tests positive for CWD.”
Game and Fish asks hunters to help monitor for the disease by collecting lymph node samples from both deer and elk harvested in focused monitoring areas in the state.
“Each CWD sample we receive is valuable for monitoring and understanding the disease,” Wildlife Health Laboratory Supervisor Hank Edwards said. “Please make an effort to submit a CWD sample of your harvest.”
Game and Fish collected 5,067 samples for chronic wasting disease testing in 2019 and have tested over 6,300 so far in 2020.
“Please visit the Game and Fish website for more information on chronic wasting disease testing, transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses,” Game and Fish said.
This article originally appeared on Oil City News. Used with permission.
