FILE: Moab's melanistic deer, which died of chronic wasting disease, had a rare condition that overproduced the melanin pigment. (Photo: Steve Ross)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Division of Wildlife Resources is asking Utah hunters to have harvested deer checked for chronic wasting disease.
It is a transmissible illness, affecting the nervous systems of moose, elk and deer. In 2002, the disease was first discovered in Utah in a buck in the Vernal area. According to the DWR, there are currently 124 mule deer and three elk that have tested posted for the disease.
Additionally, the DWR also reports the disease has only been found in six hunting units around the state. Those units are mainly in the central, northeastern and southeastern portions of the state.
“We take the presence of CWD in Utah seriously and will continue to do extensive monitoring to stay on top of the disease and its prevalence in the state,” DWR State Wildlife Veterinarian Ginger Stout said. “We ask that hunters stop at our check stations if they have harvested a deer, within the sampling units, in order to help us with our monitoring of CWD in Utah.”