GREEN RIVER – Staff at the Game and Fish Department’s wildlife disease laboratory in Laramie confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease in a buck mule deer harvested on Oct. 2 near Flat Top Mountain, in deer hunt area 100, which lies about 15 miles northwest of Baggs. Deer hunt area 100 is bordered by CWD positive deer hunt areas 82 and 84 to the east and 98 to the northeast.

“This is our first new positive hunt area this year. We again appreciate the help of hunters who help with the surveillance program. We do recommend people not eat deer, elk or moose that test positive for CWD,” Deputy Chief of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Wildlife Division, Scott Edberg said.

Green River region personnel continue to collect samples of deer, elk and moose through hunter field checks and at CWD sampling stations. WGFD personnel collect and analyze more than 1,600 CWD samples annually throughout the state.

Hunters who wish to have their deer, elk or moose tested for CWD outside of the department’s CWD surveillance program can to do so by contacting the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab at (307) 766-9925. Hunters should be aware that it may take a few weeks after their animal is sampled to get their test results.

For more information on chronic wasting disease transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses please visit the Game and Fish website here.

CWD Disease Information

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a chronic, fatal disease of the central nervous system of mule deer,white-tailed deer, Rocky Mountain elk, and (rarely) moose. Chronic wasting disease belongs to the group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). These disorders are thought to be caused by abnormal proteins called “prion proteins.” Prion proteins are neither bacteria nor viruses. They are proteins devoid of nucleic acid, thus they are not living organisms.

How do Prion Proteins Cause CWD?

Prion proteins have similar amino acid sequences as normal cellular proteins but in a different conformation. The functional role of the normal cellular proteins is unknown. Prion proteins cause a conformational change in the normal cellular protein and disease is induced when the normal cellular protein is converted into the prion protein, which apparently can no longer serve its normal role. This eventually causes brain cells to die. As more and more cells die, the disease can be observed to progress, ultimately ending in death.

What Does CWD Look Like?

The only animals known to get CWD are members of the Cervidae family (deer, elk, moose). Affected animals will have one or more of the below signs:

1. Emaciation, poor body condition, rough hair coat.
2. Behavioral changes (hyperactive when constrained; reluctance to move; ears droop).
3. Excessive salivation (sometimes).
4. Excessive drinking (or staying close to water source).
5. Lethargy (but will react when approached closely).
6. Death.