The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recently announced the first documented case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in an adult cow elk in Elk Hunt Area 93 in the Pinedale region of northwest Wyoming. This is also the first case of an elk with the fatal neurologic disease on the Black Butte Feedground. CWD has been spreading across the state, and the discovery of the disease on feedgrounds was expected. The department is actively working on Feedground Management Action Plans to reduce elk dependence on feedgrounds and minimize disease transmission risks. This aligns with the guidelines established during the development of the Wyoming Feedground Management Plan. CWD is caused by infectious misfolded proteins called prions and spreads among cervids such as deer, elk, and moose through direct contact or environmental contamination. While no people have been diagnosed with CWD, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization advise against eating meat from infected animals. This discovery highlights the importance of efforts to manage and monitor CWD in wildlife populations to protect both animals and humans.
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