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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, March 30-April 2, 2019 B-7 The Park Record Continued spread of Chronic Wasting Disease prompts government response Deer and elk in Rockies fall victim to epidemic LANCE MAGGART Sky-Hi News GRANBY, Colo. – Chronic Wasting Disease has been a point of concern for state wildlife managers for the last five decades, but ongoing concern about the continued spread of the neurological disease prompted the recent development of a state response plan with potential ramifications for Grand County. Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, is a brain disease that affects deer, elk, moose and caribou. University researchers near Fort Collins initially discovered the fatal disease in the 1960s. Since then wildlife managers in Colorado, and in numerous other regions of North America, have watched as the number of infected animals has trended upwards. According to the Colorado Chronic Wasting Disease Response Plan, at least 31 of Colorado’s 54 deer herds, 16 of its 43 elk herds and two of nine moose herds had infected individuals within them in 2018. “Not only are the number of infected herds increasing, the past 15 years of disease trends generally show an increase in the proportion of infected animals within herds as well,” reads the response plan. The issue is less pronounced in Grand County. According to Bryan Lamont, terrestrial biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Hot Sulphur Springs Office, there were 30 recorded cases of CWD in Grand County in 2018. Twenty-nine of the cases were found in Grand County’s one and only deer herd. Lamont noted that CPW required mandatory testing of all bucks harvested in Grand County in 2018, part of a broader monitoring effort CPW is undertaking to hopefully stymie the disease’s spread. Overall, Grand County’s deer population is believed to have a CWD infection rate, also called a prevalence rate, of 3.5 percent. Lamont said 833 bucks harvested in 2018 in Grand County were tested for CWD. Of those, 29 came back positive. According to the state’s CWD Response Plan, an infection rate of 5 percent or greater will prompt “compulsory intervention” by the state, prompting additional wildlife management activities such as herd reductions, reducing the male-female ratio within an infected herd, changing the herd’s age structure. The plan lists six different strategies with numerous management action recommendations within each strategy category. Comparing the infection rate of deer in Grand County to other herds around the state offers a mix of both good and bad news. While Grand County’s infection rate is not zero, which is the case for just 23 of Colorado’s 54 deer herds, the local infection rate is significantly lower. According to Lamont, recent mandatory testing of harvested deer near Fort Collins and Craig revealed strikingly higher infection rates. Officials tested bucks from two herds near Fort Collins that showed infection rates of 33.9 and 25 percent. And tests of two herds near Craig revealed infection rates of 15.3 and 18.6 percent. Mike Miller, senior wildlife veterinarian for CPW, said that CWD was first found in Grand County during the early 2000s. He praised the management practices of the local CPW team as being a major factor in the county’s comparatively low infection rate. “When we first found it in Middle Park it was just a little bit lower than that (our current rate),” Miller said. “It hasn’t really increased very much over the years. We had similar low infection rates in some of the herds further west. In those cases, under what appears to be a different harvest approach, infection rates have gone up dramatically.” Miller called the county a good example of the way proper population management can drive infection rates down. Looking at the other species in Grand County’s impacted by CWD, namely elk and moose, the situation is even better. There are three separate elk herds that technically reside in the county. One herd, named the Troublesome Herd, can be found primarily in and around the Troublesome Creek area. A second, the Williams Fork Herd, can be found around the Williams Fork River. The third, called the Gore Pass Herd, lives primarily in the Gore Pass area between the Colorado River and Rabbit Ears Pass. In 2018, state officials conducted CWD tests on elk from both the Troublesome and Williams Fork Herds. A total of 39 animals from the Troublesome Herd were tested with one single elk coming back positive for CWD. “Between our two (elk) herds of around 11,000 animals we had one positive,” Lamont said, while also acknowledging that the sample size CPW relied upon was not large. Colorado Parks and Wildlife can test for CWD in various ways, though according to Lamont, testing of specific lymph nodes, located within the necks of deer, elk and moose, is the most effective way to check for the disease’s presence. There have been no recorded cases of the transfer of CWD from deer, elk or moose into humans though he said the potential for transfer remains a concern for public officials. Likewise there have been no recorded cases of the transfer of CWD from elk, deer or moose into livestock, pets or predators. “All of the work to date suggest not,” Miller said of the possibility of transmission to other animals. “We have done experimental studies. Under natural conditions it seems to be limited to species in the deer family.” While CPW does not require that any harvested animals that have tested positive for CWD be disposed, state wildlife managers strongly suggest destroying any meat derived from an infected animal. Some of the petS at NuzzleS & Co. lookiNg for love These animals are available to be seen at the Nuzzles & Co. Adoption Center and Rescue Ranch. Our Adoption Center is open Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located in the Tanger Outlets in Kimball Junction. Our Rescue Ranch is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday. The Rescue Ranch is located at 6466 N. Highview Road in Peoa. Carlotta Chubbs Roman Scout Carlotta is a 6-year-old cattle dog mix. This sweet girl has just learned how to walk on a leash and is excited to go exploring! She is very sweet and loves to play with toys. Carlotta does well around cats and other dogs. Come and meet this sweet gal today! Chubbs is a 10-month-old German Shepherd mix. This happy go lucky boy is full of energy and would make the perfect hiking or running buddy. Chubbs knows most of his basic obedience skills, and he loves to be with people. This happy guy’s tail never stops wagging! Meet Roman! This handsome 6-year-old German Shepherd is full of personality and is looking for a home that is familiar with his breed. Roman loves to go on long walks and enjoys swimming! Roman would do best in a home without any other animals, as he can be picky about his friends. Meet Scout, an energetic, 5-month-old cattle dog who loves to play and run! He does well on a leash, is fine around cats, and likes other dogs. Scout is looking for an active home where he can get lots of exercise and go on adventures with his family! Gizmo Goliath Patrick Sand Gizmo is a beautiful 8-monthold kitten who has a permanent “boop” on her cute, little nose! This friendly cat is looking for a loving forever home where she can spend lots of time snuggling and playing with her family. Gizmo will bring lots of love and smiles into your home! Goliath is a quiet and reserved 2-year-old Domestic Shorthair. This handsome black cat enjoys laying in the sun and watching the birds fly by. Goliath is FeLV positive, so he will need a loving home where he is the only cat. This sweet boy likes to give kisses, too! Patrick is a handsome cat with a soft black and white coat. He’s about 4 years old and enjoys lazy days spent watching wildlife from a cozy perch or snoozing on a warm lap. Patrick is a social guy who likes people and gets along with other cats. Sand is a buff tabby Domestic Shorthair who is about 8 years old. She’s a shy girl, but with a little love and TLC, we know that she will open up and let her beautiful personality shine. She’s a gentle and quiet cat who is just looking for someone to love. WaNted: voluNteerS These Organizations are looking for volunteers. If you would like to include your group in this section, please email information to copyeditor@parkrecord.com. Please limit your entry to no more than 75 words Summit Land Conservancy Summit Land Conservancy is an environmental nonprofit working to permanently protect the beloved open spaces in Summit County. You can see the results of the group’s work when you walk your dog in Round Valley, enjoy the Mid Mountain Trail or fly fish on the Weber River. Volunteers are needed to assist with bi-weekly recycling and join the Adopt an Easement program. To stay in the loop with other upcoming volunteer opportunities, sign up for the newsletter at wesaveland.org/get-involved/stay-informed/. For more information on current opportunities contact caitlyn@wesaveland.org. Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter Do you love nature? Volunteers are a vital part of our mission at Swaner as we strive to preserve the land, educate the community about the value of nature and nurture both the ecosystem and our human connection to the natural landscape. Our volunteers assist with many aspects of the operation, including conservation and garden projects, kids programs and staff support. For more information please contact Rhea Cone, Volunteer Coordinator, at rhea.cone@ usu.edu or 435-797-8956. The Utah 1033 Foundation The Utah 1033 Foundation is a statewide nonprofit that provides immediate financial assistance to families of fallen Utah police officers and educational assistance for the dependents of active officers. The foundation is looking for dedicated volunteers interested in staffing various events throughout the year and/or working with its fundraising team. Interested? Send an email to info@utah1033. org. Volunteer Drivers Wanted Summit County is looking for volunteers to drive senior citizens to their doctor appointments in Salt Lake City. Any interested individuals would need to go through background and driving-record checks and should expect to dedicate four to six hours on Tuesdays. Individuals interested in volunteering as well as any seniors interested in using the service should contact Heather Nalette, Summit County senior citizens coordinator, at 435-336-3014. Wasatch Womenade Wasatch Womenade is a nonprofit providing financial assistance to local women and children in need. Volunteers are needed to host small social gatherings as mini-fundraisers for victims of domestic violence. The group’s mission is to provide aid for items outside the scope of what beneficiaries could otherwise provide. Beneficiaries include Peace House, the Children’s Justice Center and the Summit County Victim’s Assistant Program. Visit wasatchwomenade. org for details. To host an event, contact Jane Morrison at 435-6458764, wasatchwomenade@gmail.com. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit parkrecord.com/volunteers |