Summary:
- Elk feedlots in the western United States have been linked to the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disorder affecting deer and elk.
- CWD is a prion disease that can be transmitted through direct contact between animals or contaminated environments, and it has the potential to devastate elk and deer populations.
- Researchers recommend reducing or eliminating elk feedlots to limit the spread of CWD and protect the health of wild elk and deer herds.