The Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Wildlife Health Laboratory has published their final numbers for their 2023 CWD testing results, and they’re similar to the last two years - that is to say, not good. The department tested 5,100 big game animal samples for chronic wasting disease. This year's testing, completed earlier, revealed the presence of CWD in 711 samples submitted from across the state.
Jessica Jennings-Gaines, a wildlife disease specialist with the department, stated that the samples came from hunter-harvested animals, roadkill, and animals that were found dead or euthanized.
The number of samples tested in 2023 saw a slight decline from previous years. In 2022, 5,875 samples were submitted, down from 6,884 in 2021. The percentage of positive CWD cases in 2023 was 13.9%, similar to 2022's 14.1% and slightly higher than 2021's 12.2%.
Jennings-Gaines emphasized that year-to-year comparisons can be misleading due to the department's rotating focus on different deer and elk herd units. The number of positive cases correlates with the prevalence of CWD in the specific herd units surveyed.
"We can say that the prevalence of CWD is slowly increasing in many deer and elk herd units in the state," Jennings-Gaines noted. "In 2023, CWD was detected in three new deer hunt areas, Yellowstone National Park, and four new elk hunt areas."
Most of the samples were collected by Game and Fish field personnel at hunter check stations or through regional offices.
"Chronic wasting disease is a major concern for Game and Fish, and we thank hunters who contributed samples from their deer, elk, and moose," Jennings-Gaines said. "These samples are instrumental in helping us better understand the prevalence and distribution of this disease in our state."
