Biologists believe the buck was killed by a mountain lion.
"This is the first deer to test positive for CWD in Utah this year," said Leslie McFarlane, wildlife biologist for the DWR. "Last year, six of the 244 deer we sampled in the LaSal Mountains tested positive for the disease."
McFarlane says that so far this year, the DWR has collected samples from 207 animals for testing. These samples have come from various areas of the state. The division wants to collect more than 2,700 samples this year. "We'll be taking samples from deer in specific units and from elk in the Uintah Basin and southeastern Utah," she said.
A map of the units that will be sampled this year can be viewed at the DWR's website (wildlife.utah.gov). Results from samples that have been submitted, and information about chronic wasting disease, are also available at the site.
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