Hunter-harvested animals in Wyoming's Deer Hunt Areas 31 and 94 and Elk Hunt Area 126 have tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) for the first time, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed yesterday.
Deer Hunt Area 31 is located in the Sheridan region, which is bordered by five areas positive for CWD in mule deer (29, 19, 22, 34, and 169). Deer Hunt Area 94, in the Lander region, is bordered by areas 92, 160, 97, 96, and 131, which have also had detections in mule deer. The Casper region is home to Elk Hunt Area 126, which is bordered by seven CWD-positive elk areas (3, 7, 122, 129, 113, 123, and 117).
The news release gave no information on the number of CWD-positive cervids identified in the latest detections.
"In 2023, Game and Fish personnel tested more than 5,000 CWD lymph node samples from deer and elk—primarily submitted by hunters—and continue to evaluate new recommendations for trying to manage the disease," the news release said.
Officials caution against eating meat from infected, sick cervids
CWD is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cervids caused called by extremely resilient misfolded proteins called prions, which can be transmitted among cervids and through environmental contamination.
In 2023, Game and Fish personnel tested more than 5,000 CWD lymph node samples from deer and elk—primarily submitted by hunters—and continue to evaluate new recommendations for trying to manage the disease.
While CWD isn't known to infect people, the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend against eating meat from an infected animal and urge taking precautions when field-dressing or butchering cervids.
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