CWD again crosses Divide

HAYDEN, COLO. -- Colorado Division of Wildlife officials have confirmed that another deer on the Western Slope has tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

The buck was killed in a collision with a vehicle and found by a Division of Wildlife officer Oct. 4 about four miles east of Hayden, according to Jeff Ver Steeg, the division's chief of terrestrial animals. That's within about 10 miles of an elk ranch that had previously had an animal test positive for CWD, according to John Ellenberger, the agency's big game manager. Ellenberger said he was informed of the most recent positive result Thursday, two days before the start of the rifle hunting season.

Several wild mule deer infected with the disease were found in the same general area in April, when wildlife managers culled herds to try and gauge how far the disease had spread from the elk ranch.