Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Jackson Elk Herd

Tasks to be performed: 1) Obtain at least 285 retropharyngeal lymph node (RLN) samples from harvested elk, other opportunistic elk mortalities, and elk euthanized for targeted surveillance within the boundaries of the JEH unit in FY 2015. This sample size is sufficient to detect CWD prevalence of 1% with 95% confidence at current elk population levels. 2)Opportunistically sample RLNs from mule deer, white-tailed deer, and moose within the boundaries of the Jackson Elk Herd Unit in FY 2015. 3)Opportunistically sample RLNs from elk, deer and moose in areas immediately adjacent to the JEH unit boundary as resources permit. 4)Test all RLN samples for CWD and provide a report to cooperators on CWD surveillance results.