‘Absolutely concerning’: More CWD-killed elk found at second Wyoming feed ground (and why it matters in North Dakota)

> Elk in Wyoming’s feedgrounds are facing a crisis that’s been years in the making. Chronic wasting disease (CWD), long feared but until recently hypothetical in these densely packed wintering grounds, is now a growing reality. Prions—nearly indestructible infectious agents—are accumulating in soil and vegetation, threatening to accelerate the disease’s spread.
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> Wildlife managers knew this day would come, but their response is constrained by politics. Closing or even adjusting feeding operations requires broad consensus from ranchers, outfitters, and state officials. With five of six feedground-dependent elk herds now harboring CWD, the future of these managed populations is on the line.
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> Why does this matter in North Dakota? Our own game and fish biologists have been sounding the alarm for years, opposing deer feeding out of concern that it would accelerate CWD’s spread. Yet, the ND Senate recently ignored their own experts, passing a law that makes it illegal to restrict supplemental feeding. In effect, they’ve tied the hands of Game and Fish when it comes to disease management. Meanwhile in Wyoming, the fire alarm is going off—CWD is killing elk on the feed grounds. Get the full story from Wyo File.