A Montana Wildlife Crime & CWD Found in an Area of Major Concern

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tells us that their game wardens are seeking information on a bull moose that was shot on the Sun River Wildlife Management Area near Augusta, most likely early this month or possibly the very last day or two of October. The moose was shot and left to waste.

Game wardens will tell you that wildlife crimes like these one are often solved because of leads from the public. Here's hoping someone saw something. Any leads or inforamtion that might be helpful information can be turned in on the FWP TipMont page of their website. Information that leads to an apprehension may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

In other unfortunate wildlife news, Yellowstone National Park officials have recently confirmed the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the carcass of an adult mule deer buck found near Yellowstone Lake. This is the first confirmed positive detection of the disease in Yellowstone National Park.  

CWD is caused by a protein that accumulates in the brains of deer, elk, moose and reindeer. The condition causes neurological disorders, emaciation, and death. Once clinical signs are observed the disease is always fatal. Once introduced into an area, the CWD protein is contagious within deer and elk populations and can spread quickly.

 Both instances are definitely blows to Montana's treasured wildlife.