Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 12

NEWS

As of February 2020, chronic wasting disease was found in 84 percent of Wyoming's mule deer herds. If you see a deer, elk or moose that appears to be sick or not acting in a normal manner, please
contact your local game warden, wildlife biologist or Game and Fish office immediately. (Adobe Stock Photo)

Plan in place to manage chronic
wasting disease in Wyoming
CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department now animals most likely to be positive and pursuing or enforcing statutory
has a toolkit to manage one of the state's most pressing wildlife issue. and regulatory provisions regarding CWD.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved the Wyoming
Experimental hunter harvest strategies may be proposed in some
Chronic Wasting Disease Management Plan during its July meeting areas to increase harvest in areas of concern or to target segments of a
in Rawlins. The plan is the result of a year-long collaborative process population most likely to have CWD, but will only be implemented
led by Game and Fish, along with a diverse set of public stakehold- in areas where public support exists and will require Commission
ers, to develop a path forward to begin managing the fatal disease in approval.
the state's deer, elk and moose populations. In 2019 Game and Fish
The plan will be reviewed and modified as additional research and
Director Brian Nesvik appointed 31 peoscience provides greater insight into CWD.
ple from varied backgrounds, professions
"Wherever implemented, management
and interests from throughout Wyoming
strategies
will be specifically tailored to
TO READ THE WYOMING
to a CWD working group that helped
local herd and disease dynamics," said
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
develop recommendations for the plan.
Justin Binfet, Game and Fish wildlife
MANAGEMENT PLAN VISIT:
Chronic wasting disease affects the
management coordinator in the Casper
WGFD.WYO.GOV/CWD
central nervous system of members of
region and a member of the CWD manthe deer family. It was first documented in
agement team.
a free-ranging mule deer in Wyoming in
"Consideration must be given to an
1985. As of February 2020, CWD has been identified in 84 percent array of site-specific variables such as prevalence and distribution
of Wyoming's mule deer herds, 25 percent of elk herds and generally of the disease within a herd, whether the herd is migratory, herd
wherever white-tailed deer are found in the state.
productivity, winter severity and so forth."
"We are still learning more about this disease and its effects on
Nesvik cautioned results from this plan will take time to see and
Wyoming's deer and elk populations, but for the first time there is asked for ongoing public involvement.
clear evidence that CWD is adversely affecting the overall health and
"This plan outlines some immediate actions we can do to curb
viability of some herds," Nesvik said.
this disease, but many of the strategies are long-term efforts that may
The plan does not call for statewide or regional management take over a decade to see through to completion," Nesvik said. "As
direction to combat CWD. However, it provides a suite of options we move forward to take on this issue, I ask for people to remain
for wildlife managers to consider for implementation in their local engaged. We will provide information to the public on the manageareas. Examples include ways to eliminate concentrations of deer, ment actions we deploy, and there may be changes to regulations."
elk and moose, utilizing hunter harvest to maximize the removal of - Robert Gagliardi, WGFD
12 | September 2020
http://WGFD.WYO.GOV/CWD
Wyoming Wildlife magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wyoming Wildlife magazine
