Moose taken near Troy tests positive for CWD

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) twice confirmed that a moose harvested near Troy was CWD positive, marking the first instance of CWD being found in the species in the state.

The CWD-positive bull moose was taken in late October west of Quartz Creek and north of Troy on Pulpit Mountain. The location was just a hair away from the state’s delineated CWD management zone.

This is one of three voluntary moose samples that FWP has collected and submitted for testing at the research lab in Fort Collins, CO.

The other two samples were taken near the CWD management zone as well, but tested negative for the disease. As of now, the CWD positive moose sample appears to be an isolated case.

“It’s obviously too early to say,” said FWP regional information and education program manager Dillon Tabish. “One positive is one more than we’d like to have.”

Tabish said moose are solitary animals that tend to forage independently from others of their species, which may help to prevent exposure.

Moose in Montana have been reported susceptible by FWP in the past due to warming temperatures, predation, parasites and diseases.

“We are hopeful this won’t have management implications,” Tabish said.

He said FWP offered to reissue a tag to the hunter, but they opted to keep the paddles and dispose the rest of the animal at the CWD sanctioned landfill.

Tabish sought to remind hunters that “diseased meat is always issuable for a new tag.”

FWP will continue to conduct CWD surveillance through the hunting season and review sample results after the season to potentially update future sampling efforts. FWP encourages hunters to submit animals for testing in areas adjacent to the Libby CWD Management Zone.

Thus far, 30 animals have tested positive for CWD in the zone created near Libby.