RBC I Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s efforts to learn more about chronic wasting disease and how the agency will respond to increased prevalence will be the topic of a public meeting in Craig April 30.
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease found in deer, elk and moose. To learn more about the disease in Colorado, CPW has required hunters to submit samples taken from deer harvested in several herds in Colorado since 2017. Mandatory submissions will resume in 2019.
During the public meeting, agency managers and biologists will reveal the results of last year’s mandatory testing within the Bear’s Ears deer herd.
“We needed better data to make informed decisions about how we can tackle this disease,” said Area Wildlife Manager Bill de Vergie of Meeker.
According to CPW managers, hunters will play a critical role in the coming years as the agency continues to address the challenge.
“Hunter harvest is one of our primary management tools,” said de Vergie. “Hunters will be a major part of our response to CWD, but everyone’s participation and input will be important, they hunt or benefit from hunting. Not everyone will agree with every decision, but either way, our goal is to keep the public informed as we proceed.”
CPW researchers and biologists have studied chronic wasting disease on numerous fronts. The agency’s work and expertise with CWD are recognized both nationally and internationally.
Special to the Herald Times
