CWD Affects Deer Population
Written by Andrew-Rossi on April 19, 2018
Two recently published academic studies show Wyoming deer herds with higher CWD prevalence may see significant decreases in population due to the disease.
Chronic wasting disease is fatal to deer, elk and moose. Recent research in Wyoming and Colorado shows that it poses a serious threat to deer populations in areas with a high prevalence of the disease, and may even be impacting elk in at least one Colorado population.
CWD was first discovered in Wyoming more than 30 years ago. Scott Talbott, director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, says that unfortunately, CWD is not a disease that can be eradicated. But he says Wyoming is partnering with other states to fight this disease.
Game and Fish officials say the agency has joined two collaborative efforts to research management of the disease. One project developed recommendations for strategies that states can use to potentially slow the spread and reduce prevalence of CWD. The other is a study of whether hunting may decrease the prevalence of CWD in deer populations.
