Game and Fish Commission receives updates on CWD, wolverine monitoring

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports during the second day of its November meeting Friday, the Game and Fish Commission received an update on chronic wasting disease throughout the state, along with the monitoring of wolverines in western Wyoming. 

Game and Fish wildlife management coordinator in the Cody Region Corey Class reported CWD is present in 71% of elk herds and 95% of mule deer herds throughout the state. To combat the disease, Game and Fish continues to make season adjustments in some hunt areas to increase harvest opportunities aimed at reducing CWD in certain areas with higher prevalence, such as riparian areas or cultivated lands, or to limit the spread of the disease to adjacent herds.

“We don’t have a silver bullet to combat CWD, but based on things we know, there are several strategies worth trying and evaluating,” Class said. “The Paintrock Mule Deer Herd is one place where we have implemented focused harvest strategies, and we are learning what may be working and what isn’t. Eradication is not going to happen, and it may be too early to say that this will last long term, but certainly over the last couple of years it appears we may have at least stabilized it for now.” 

Game and Fish small carnivore biologist Andy Gygli presented an overview on wolverine management throughout the state. The department has partnered with other western states and federal partners to monitor wolverines rangewide since 2015, and will continue this winter to determine wolverine occupancy across the state. Starting in 2023, Game and Fish and U.S. Forest Service personnel began a collaring effort to better understand wolverine movement, habitat use, diet, and reproductive success.

“We will be continuing collaring efforts this year to continue to collect genetic samples, identify critical travel corridors and to better understand wolverine home ranges,” Gygli said. 

Kenneth Roberts of Kemmerer announced his resignation as a Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioner effective Jan. 3. Roberts was elected to serve in the Wyoming Legislature.

On Thursday evening, Scott Talbott, Allen ‘Dok’ Binns, Bob Budd and Arthur ‘Jack’ Welch, were inducted into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame. 

Governor Mark Gordon attended the event and addressed the group. 

“People are envious of Wyoming’s wildlife, and the people in this room, many who are giants in the field, have made significant impacts to the state’s conservation story,“ Gordon said.