Wyoming Faces New Elk Challenges Amid Feedground Changes and Disease Concerns
In a concerning development for Wyoming wildlife, a dead elk found east of Pinedale recently tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), marking the first confirmed CWD-related death within one of the state’s feedgrounds, KiowaCountyPress reports.
The discovery underscores the ongoing challenges wildlife managers face as they navigate feeding practices amid the spread of the fatal neurological disease.
Elk feedgrounds, which have been in operation for over a century, were originally established to provide supplemental food during severe winters. However, with the growing risk of disease transmission, the practice has come under increased scrutiny. Chronic Wasting Disease, which is fatal to elk, deer, and moose, spreads through contaminated saliva, feces, and even environmental contact.
John Lund, regional wildlife supervisor for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, emphasized the gravity of the recent CWD incident.
“It really hits home,” Lund said. “We released an Elk Feedgrounds Management Plan last year specifically to help guide us in evaluating our feedgrounds and looking for ways to reduce the reliance on supplemental feeding.”
The department’s primary objective, according to Lund, is to strike a balance between providing for elk during fragmented winters and mitigating the disease’s spread.
Today, feedgrounds also help address modern challenges such as habitat fragmentation caused by highways and human development. They provide a practical way to reduce conflicts between elk and ranchers by preventing the animals from consuming cattle feed or spreading diseases to livestock.
Despite these benefits, feedgrounds like Scab Creek—where the CWD-positive carcass was found—are often overcrowded. Between 2020 and 2023, Scab Creek hosted an average of 800 elk during winter, roughly 300 more than the state’s intended capacity. This congestion can exacerbate the spread of diseases, making wildlife management more complex.
To combat these risks, Wyoming officials are implementing measures to limit disease spread.
“We’re conducting disease sampling as frequently as possible and removing carcasses that show signs of illness,” Lund explained.
These efforts aim to reduce the presence of infected animals and limit further exposure.
Additionally, a 2024 report from the US Geological Survey modeled the long-term population effects of five different feeding scenarios for Wyoming’s Jackson Elk Herd. The study found that maintaining current feeding practices could lead to a drastic decline in herd size and a 35% infection rate for Chronic Wasting Disease within 20 years.
