The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is addressing increased concerns about chronic wasting disease (CWD) through a new public working group and is asking for membership applications. CWD is widely distributed across Wyoming and is fatal to deer, elk and moose. The working group, through facilitation supported by the Ruckelshaus Institute, Haub School of Environmental and Natural Resources with the University of Wyoming, will develop recommendations to revise Game and Fish’s CWD management plan. Applications to the group open on March 19, 2019 online.
“We value the knowledge and voice of our partners in CWD management,” said Scott Edberg, acting chief of the Game and Fish wildlife division. “This working group is intended to represent people from a diverse range of backgrounds, industries and professions as Game and Fish expands it efforts to address CWD.”
Game and Fish is seeking individuals to apply to the working group from:
- Local government
- Governor’s office
- Legislator
- Agriculture/landowner community
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department
- Outdoor media
- Outfitting businesses
- Federal agencies
- State agencies
- Sportspeople
- Conservation NGOs
- Scientists
- General public
- Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
If selected, committee members will be expected to:
- Share information with/from the working group with the public as well as the organizations, groups, affiliations and businesses they represent
- Attend all working group meetings and participate in local CWD public meetings
- Have the ability and willingness to use scientific, social, economic, and technical information in the deliberations and recommendation process
- Have the ability and willingness to negotiate in good faith during the working group process.
If the applicant is representing a group, organization, business or affiliation, the organization must confirm the applicant as suitable representation. All working group members will be responsible for expenses associated with participation and travel.
The CWD working group will meet several times throughout the year and into 2020. A detailed listing of dates and locations can be found on the CWD working group website and in the online application. During the meetings, working group members will explore scientific, social, economic and policy information related to CWD and deer and elk management and ways to minimize CWD in these populations. Recommendations generated from the group will be provided to Game and Fish for consideration into the department’s revised CWD management plan.
The deadline to submit a working group membership application is April 5. Members of the working group will be appointed by the Game and Fish director with a term through Dec. 31, 2020.
