Chronic Wasting Disease Spreads to Another Wyoming Elk-Hunting Area
An adult female elk in Elk Hunt Area 116 has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurologic infection.
The affected area, located in the Casper region, borders Elk Hunt Areas 117 and 129, which had previous CWD detections in 2008 and 2020, respectively.
Area 116 is part of the Black Hills Elk Herd, which includes hunting areas 115, 117, and 1, with the latter being CWD-positive since 2020.
CWD affects cervids such as deer, elk, and moose, and is spread through infectious misfolded proteins called prions.
Continued monitoring of CWD is crucial to understanding its potential impacts and evaluating future management actions.
CWD spreads via infectious misfolded proteins called prions
Author's summary: CWD detected in Wyoming's Elk Hunt Area 116.