Monitor for Chronic Wasting Disease:  Deer Movements, Density, and Potential Transmission at Wind Cave National Park

Dr. Jon Jenks
Krysten Schuler
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
South Dakota State University

Abstract: Wind Cave National Park proposes to conduct a study of Chronic Wasting Disease occurrence and transmission in deer within and near the park.  The park anticipates acquiring several sections of adjacent land that historically supported a domestic elk herd that contained CWD.  All ungulates on the property are believed to have been destroyed in the late 1990s.The property is enclosed by a fence designed to prevent deer and elk ingress.  The park proposes to capture and radio-collar 20 deer from within the park and translocate them to the adjacent lands with a history of the disease.  The animals will be monitored for survival, health, confinement within the fenced area, and other factors.  The park proposes to capture and radio-collar another 20 deer in the park.  These animals will be released at the site of capture.  The latter animals will be monitored for movement patterns including dispersal and migration, transgression of the fence, and other factors relevant to CWD.  The park will conduct aerial surveys to estimate the deer density within the park.

Funding Agency:
National Park Service
Modification #: H6000A0100V ($8,000), [mod 0001($77,550); 0002($48,255); 0003($24,000); 0004($34,800); 0005 (NC)]
$192,605

Effective Dates:  September 2002 through December 2006