• Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce talks Chronic Wasting Disease impacts
On Tuesday, March 4, Director Angi Bruce of the Wyoming Game & Fish Department joined the Weekday Wake-Up to provide her monthly report, touching on critical updates regarding wildlife management in the state.
Director Bruce discussed recent legislation affecting the Game & Fish Department and the ongoing challenges posed by Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), which has recently been confirmed in two adult female elk from Elk Hunt Area 87. The first elk was discovered dead in January, followed by a second in early February at the Dell Creek feedground. This marks the first recorded cases of CWD in this hunt area and the Upper Green River Elk Herd.
RELATED: DIRECTOR ANGI BRUCE WYOMING G&F –
On March 11, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department detected CWD in an adult cow elk from Elk Hunt Area 93 at the Black Butte Feedground. Game and Fish personnel investigated, collected samples, and removed the carcass after discovering the elk. Elk Hunt Area 93 is located in the Pinedale Region and is bordered by two CWD-positive elk areas: 87 and 92. This is the first documented case of CWD in this hunt area and the first confirmed case of an elk with CWD on this feedground.
“We expected this to happen and we know how CWD is transmitted for the most part,” Bruce stated. She expressed surprise at the timing of these findings, noting, “I am surprised we haven’t seen it yet.” The director highlighted that while CWD has been moving quickly among deer populations, its transmission among elk appears to be slower.
Understanding the nuances of CWD transmission is vital for effective management. “This is another piece of information to add to our CWD management,” Director Bruce explained, emphasizing the importance of continuous data collection to track the disease’s movement.
In response to the recent findings, Game & Fish personnel are developing Feedground Management Action Plans (FMAPs) aimed at reducing elk reliance on feedgrounds and mitigating disease risks. Bruce reassured the public that ongoing sampling of collared animals will help provide more insights into the spread of CWD.
