New Wyoming plan to fight chronic wasting disease released

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – A group including outfitters, hunters, conservation groups, ranchers, lawmakers and biologists has released a new draft plan to fight chronic wasting disease in Wyoming.

The disease causes animals including deer, elk and moose to become lethargic and die.

There’s no known cure but chronic wasting disease is now identified in 84 percent of Wyoming’s mule deer herds.

The plan’s proposals include thinning certain mule deer herds and for municipalities to ban artificial feeding to prevent mule deer from congregating.

Feeding bans would not apply to elk feedgrounds in western Wyoming.

The state Game and Fish Department plans meetings to discuss the disease and the feedgrounds’ future.