Booth Id:
ANIM045
Category:
Animal Sciences
Year:
2024
Finalist Names:
Mekelburg, Lydia (School: Yuma High School)
Abstract:
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a highly contagious, fatal prion disease found in cervids, which
has resulted in their decline; specifically, whitetail deer and mule deer. Data (sex, species, CWD
status, and harvest location) were collected during the first and second rifle seasons of 2023 in
Colorado for Game Management Units (GMUs) 98, 101, and 102. Data for 2023 was collected
by the researcher during Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) mandatory CWD testing because
the researcher had access to CWD status for each harvested deer. It was hypothesized that 1.
Male deer would have a higher rate of CWD prevalence than females, 2. Specific geographic
areas would yield a higher rate of CWD prevalence, based on soil type and type of vegetation;
and 3. CWD prevalence rates would increase from 2019 to 2023. Utilizing a spatial analysis
program, each deer’s data, including deer-harvested locations, were mapped and analyzed by
attributes. Analyses included: hot-spot investigation, soil analysis, overlay of deer information
from prior testing years (2019 data provided by CPW), and positive/negative high-density areas.
The first hypothesis was accepted as CWD positivity rates were higher for males (36.1%) than
females (12.5%). The second hypothesis was not supported as the difference between the
positivity rates among the soil types were not significant. The third hypothesis was supported
because the prevalence rates in the study area increased from 20.3% in 2019 to 29.9% in 2023.
This was found to be significant with a p-value of .007.