BOISE, Idaho — According to a news release from Yellowstone National Park and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) a recently found carcass of an adult mule deer in the park was confirmed to have chronic wasting disease (CWD).
This is the first confirmed positive detection of the disease in Yellowstone National Park.
According to WGFD, the mule deer buck was originally captured by their staff near Cody, Wyoming in March of 2023, as part of a population study it was fitted with a GPS collar. The collar alerted WGFD that the animal died mid-October 2023.
With coordination from Yellowstone staff, WGFD located the carcass on the Promontory, which is a landmass between the South and Southeast arms of Yellowstone Lake, and collected samples for testing, said the news release. Based on multiple diagnostic tests performed by WGFD's Wildlife Health Laboratory, the carcass tested positive for CWD.
The release furthers, Yellowstone staff will prioritize the following actions to manage the disease as there is no effective strategy to eradicate it once established:
- Increase collaboration and information sharing with WGFD https://wgfd.wyo.gov/ and other state agencies to identify areas within Yellowstone with increased risk for CWD.
- Increase monitoring for the presence of CWD in other deer, elk and moose in the park.
- Increase the investigation of carcasses and collection of samples for testing.
CWD is a contagious, fatal disease of deer, elk and moose caused by a malformed protein (prion) for which there is no vaccine or known treatment, said the news release. The disease is transmitted by direct animal-to-animal contact or indirectly through contact with infectious particles, persisting in the environment, like soil or vegetation.
Signs of CWD include listlessness, weight loss, increased drinking and urinating, excessive drooling and head lowering, said the news release. The long-term effect of CWD in Yellowstone is uncertain at this time.
WGFD reports that since the mid-1980's CWD has spread across Wyoming and is now found in most of the state. About 10-15% of the mule deer near Cody, Wyoming, are estimated to have CWD.
Guidance for Park Visitors:
WGFD provided a list of tips for visitors to have a safe trip:
- Most wild animals in Yellowstone are healthy and thrive in their natural environment, but sometimes wildlife can get sick just like people.
- If you see any sick or dead wildlife, notify a National Park Service (NPS) employee as soon as possible and avoid contact with the animal.
- Avoid touching or handling sick or dead wild animals as some disease-causing organisms can be passed between wild animals and people.
- NPS employees trained in wildlife health use specific protective measures to safely deal with a wild animal that may have died of disease.
- It is recommended that people avoid consumption of any part of an animal that is suspected or confirmed to have CWD.
- There is currently no evidence that CWD can infect humans or domestic animal species. However, it is recommended that tissues from CWD-infected animals not be consumed.
Editor's note: Yellowstone is currently revising its 2021 Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Plan due to the recent detection and anticipate its completion in 2024.
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