Washington’s wildlife authorities have enacted statewide bans on baiting and feeding elk, deer, and moose as part of a comprehensive strategy to combat chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological condition affecting cervids. The recent measures come after the state confirmed its first case in Spokane County last year and are designed to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading through concentrated animal populations.
The new rules include mandatory testing for all hunter-killed and salvaged deer, elk, and moose in the eastern region, alongside strict prohibitions on moving any parts of these animals out of the impacted areas. With CWD present in 36 states, the regulations align Washington with neighboring states like Idaho and Montana in efforts to preserve wildlife health and prevent devastating declines in cervid populations.
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