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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

Chronic Wasting Disease vigilance justified by research

HUNTING -- Washington and Idaho hunters can be lulled to sleep by the lack of news about a significant big-game disease that's faded from the region's headlines in recent years.

But not too far away...

Chronic Wasting Disease is killing about 19 percent of a Wyoming mule deer herd each year, according to a wildlife researcher.

A five-year study that examined 143 deer in Southern Converse County found that 19 percent of the herd is lost each year to CWD, according to Melia DeVivo, University of Wyoming doctoral student.

The herd numbered about 14,000 in the early 2000s. In 10 years, the population has dwindled to half that size.

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Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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