Elk Refuge responds to new chronic wasting disease cases in Wyo.
JACKSON, Wyo. — The National Elk Refuge (NER) does not anticipate any additional impacts to Jackson herds after the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) reported on Monday, Nov. 4, that Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is present in new deer and elk hunt areas in the Sheridan, Lander and Casper regions.
National Elk Refuge Wildlife Biologist Amy Girard told Buckrail that the detection of CWD in a new hunt area near Lander isn't likely to infect local herds, but she emphasized that there are positive areas closer to Jackson Hole.
"Both the Wyoming Range and Sublette mule deer herds are already considered CWD positive," Girard said.
In the past year, new cases of the disease have been detected in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In Oct. 2023, CWD was detected in a harvested mule deer in Jackson's hunt area 154 . A Yellowstone mule deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease in Nov. 2023.
To keep the refuge herds healthy, the NER uses multiple preventive measures to manage wildlife disease.
According to Girard, all hunter-killed elk and deer are required to be tested for CWD, and winter-killed animals are tested when possible. Refuge staff euthanize and cremate animals showing clinical signs of CWD and cremate all other carcasses after scavenging has taken place to reduce environmental contamination.
Girard said that the implementation of the Bison and Elk Management Step-down Plan could reduce the prevalence of CWD.
"Reducing the density and the duration elk are on the Refuge can lower the risk of disease transmission," Girard said. "Encouraging elk to spend more time on native winter range, through reducing the length of the feeding season, shortens the window for disease transmission while on the Refuge."
To date, CWD has not been detected on the NER, according to Girard.
CWD has been detected in most deer hunt areas throughout the state, and the WGFD has asked hunters to collect samples from deer, elk and moose this fall to help with monitoring the disease. Testing samples were requested across Wyoming in the key deer and elk hunt areas . WGFD also confirms continued monitoring of CWD helps the agency evaluate future management actions for deer and elk.
The WGFD wrote on its website that the disease is 100% fatal to deer, elk and moose that have been infected. 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.
To ensure hunters are informed, the WGFD announces when CWD is found in a new hunt area. The Centers for Disease Control recommends hunters do not consume any animal that is obviously ill or tests positive for CWD.
