Anthrax Information
What is Anthrax?
Anthrax is a rare but serious infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis. It is potentially infectious to all mammals but is most commonly seen in hooved animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and deer (pronghorn, elk, and moose are also susceptible). Anthrax is a very fast-acting disease, with signs occurring within one to 14 days after exposure. Read more about anthrax.
On Sept. 3, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, through the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, confirmed a case of anthrax in a dead moose in Carbon County. The Wyoming Livestock Board recently informed Game and Fish that cattle near Elk Mountain have tested positive for anthrax.
This recent detection in a moose is the only documented case reported in wildlife at this time. The last confirmed case of anthrax in wildlife in Wyoming was in 1956 in Sublette County.
If hunters encounter deceased wildlife, note the location or take a GPS pin and report findings to Game and Fish. You can report a wildlife disease incident online or by calling the Game and Fish Wildlife Health Laboratory at 307-745-5865.
Affected Hunt Areas
- Deer - Areas 74, 75, 79
- Elk - Areas 10, 11, 125, Southern Nonresident Region
- Antelope - Areas 46, 48, 50
- Moose - Area 38
What are some clinical signs of an anthrax infection?
Animals die quickly after being infected with anthrax. Signs of anthrax that may be present include:
- Lethargy
- Stumbling
- Trembling
- Signs of respiratory distress
- Lack of rigor mortis
- Bloat - giving the animal a sawhorse appearance
- Bloody discharge from natural orifices (mouth, nose, anus, etc.), especially unclotted blood
- Found dead with no obvious cause in an area with a history of anthrax infections
Anthrax FAQs
Where is Anthrax found?
Historically, in Wyoming, anthrax outbreaks have been documented in cattle in Laramie, Niobrara, Natrona, Carbon, Lincoln, Sublette and Teton Counties. Moose succumbed to anthrax during the 1956 outbreak in Sublette County. During August and September 2024, an outbreak in domestic cattle was detected in the Elk Mountain area of Carbon County. As of Sept. 4, 2024, anthrax has also been detected in one wild moose from the Elk Mountain area.
How is Anthrax spread?
In animals, anthrax is typically spread through ingestion or inhalation of bacterial endospores. Animals most commonly come into contact with spores while grazing on contaminated land. Anthrax spores occur naturally in the soil and become infectious under the right environmental conditions like drought followed by heavy rain with or without soil disturbance Outbreaks usually end after cool weather arrives and spores become dormant, however spores can remain in the environment for decades.
How does anthrax affect me?
Anthrax is zoonotic, which means it can infect people, most commonly after coming into contact with infected animals or consuming contaminated animal products. Exposure to anthrax spores can occur through the skin, by inhalation, or by ingestion of raw or undercooked contaminated meat. Anthrax rarely causes infection in cats and dogs but can occur if they are fed contaminated animal products.