Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed at Fourth Wyoming Elk Feedground

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) confirmed two new cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a press release on March 17—one at the Horse Creek Feedground near Hoback and another near Cody.

This marks the fourth instance of the fatal neurological disease being detected at a state-managed elk feedground in the past three months, raising concerns among wildlife officials.

Before December 2024, CWD had never been officially identified at any of Wyoming’s 22 elk feedgrounds. However, since then, multiple infected carcasses have been found at Dell Creek, Black Butte, Scab Creek, and now Horse Creek feedgrounds.

“Although it’s very concerning, it’s not totally a surprise that we’re starting to detect it on feedgrounds,” said Ben Wise, WGFD wildlife disease biologist for the Jackson region.

CWD, caused by misfolded proteins called prions, is highly contagious among elk, deer, and moose. Once infected, animals experience severe weight loss, behavioral changes, and eventual death. The disease was first documented in Wyoming mule deer in the 1980s and spread to elk in 2020, but it was not detected on feedgrounds until January 2025.

The discovery of CWD at Horse Creek Feedground highlights a long-standing debate over Wyoming’s elk feeding program. While feeding helps elk survive harsh winters, it also brings them into close contact, increasing the risk of disease transmission.

Despite concerns, WGFD commissioners decided in 2024 to continue feeding elk on 21 out of 22 feedgrounds. The rapid spread of CWD this winter suggests the disease may be more widespread than previously thought, particularly in areas like the Dell Creek Feedground near Bondurant.

“We’re seeing the ramifications of having CWD in that population,” Wise said. “We’re finding dead animals that are skinny, emaciated, and they’re coming up positive.”

Wyoming’s Jackson Elk Herd, numbering about 10,000 animals, is at particular risk. A US Geological Survey (USGS) study estimates that CWD could kill 20,000 elk in western Wyoming over the next two decades.

At the National Elk Refuge, where 6,000 to 10,000 elk congregate each winter, research suggests that CWD prevalence could reach 35%, potentially reducing the herd size by half. Similar projections indicate that elk populations in five other fed herds could decline from 16,000 to 8,300 animals within 20 years if winter feeding continues.

Wyoming Public Media and WyoFile contributed to this report.