EBS STAFF
A Nov. 14 press release from Yellowstone National Park reported that a mule deer buck tested positive for chronic wasting disease near Yellowstone Lake. Both Yellowstone National Park and Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) confirmed that the adult mule deer buck carcass tested positive for the disease in the park.
“The samples tested positive for CWD based on multiple diagnostic tests performed at WGFD’s Wildlife Health Laboratory,” the release stated.
Chronic wasting disease “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,” the release stated. The malformed protein causes physiological and behavioral changes as well as emaciation and death.
Signs that visitors should look for are listlessness, weight loss, increased drinking and urinating, excessive drooling and head lowering.
The park advises visitors to avoid touching sick or dead wildlife and instead notify a National Park Service employee as soon as possible.
Read more here.
