The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed the first case of chronic wasting disease in an elk on the National Elk Refuge in Wyoming Elk Hunt Area 77. The refuge will increase monitoring, surveillance, and implement additional bio-security protocols to manage the disease.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed chronic wasting disease on the Muddy Creek feedground in Elk Hunt Area 98, marking the fifth feedground in Wyoming with confirmed CWD among elk. Personnel continue surveillance and sample collection at feedgrounds to monitor disease spread and inform management decisions.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources confirmed three positive cases of chronic wasting disease in wild white-tailed deer during the 2025-2026 hunting season in Noble, Franklin, and Rush counties. DNR expanded the CWD Positive Area and enhanced surveillance efforts, offering free voluntary testing of harvested deer through head drop coolers and participating businesses.
The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission heard presentations from Dr. Mark Ruder, Dr. Jennifer Malmberg, and Grant Woods on chronic wasting disease management. Game Warden David deMontigny was recognized as the 2026 ODWC R3 Champion for his recruitment and retention efforts.
The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission opposes House Bill 3270, which would allow captive deer to be released into wild populations. Dr. Jennifer Malmberg from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Dr. Mark Ruder from the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study testified that 96SS deer are not resistant to chronic wasting disease, and no scientific justification exists for releasing farmed deer into free-ranging populations.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Wildlife Health Laboratory tested 5,370 samples in 2025, detecting CWD in 842 samples. CWD prevalence increased in mule deer and white-tailed deer, with the disease now identified in 35 of 37 mule deer herds and 24 of 34 elk herd units statewide.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources confirmed chronic wasting disease in mule deer near Scofield in Carbon County and new areas of Uintah County. Of 2,126 samples tested between July and February, 83 were positive for CWD, with 435 total mule deer and 11 elk confirmed infected statewide since 2002.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department tested 1,224 animals for chronic wasting disease in 2025, confirming 16 deer positive for CWD across multiple hunting units. CWD was newly detected in units 2B and 3D2, with surveillance data guiding future management decisions.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources confirmed chronic wasting disease in a hunter-harvested deer from Gladwin County, making it the 18th Michigan county with CWD in wild deer. The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the finding. The DNR urges hunters to submit samples and follow safety precautions when handling deer.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation confirmed a second chronic wasting disease-positive mule deer in Cimarron County's Panhandle, harvested near Felt. ODWC and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry activated their joint CWD Response Plan, maintaining the existing Selective Surveillance Area.