Provide monitoring and survey activities to prevent the spread of brucellosis among wildlife and domestic animals

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Game & Fish Commission Wyoming a Cooperative Agreement valued at $170,652 on April 1, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025).

The recipient delivers brucellosis monitoring and prevention activities across Wyoming through four primary work streams: fabrication and deployment of at least 8,000 blood collection kits for hunter-harvested elk surveillance in the Bighorn Mountains and surrounding priority areas; distribution and surveillance of elk using 20 GPS collars; expansion of surveillance activities in the Lander region through temporary staffing support and increased collaboration with the Wind River Indian Reservation on hunter-harvested sample submission; and provision of fencing for rancher-stored feed across 9 new areas coupled with expanded damage mitigation efforts. Expected outcomes include improved elk surveillance across 10 existing and 9 additional surveillance areas and reduced brucellosis transmission to cattle, which the source documents through quarantine releases from 3 of 4 cattle herds in the past year, enabling producers and their neighbors to resume normal business operations.

The award benefits livestock producers numbering between 10,500 and 12,000 in Wyoming and consumers supported by the state's cattle industry, which generates over $1 billion in direct output annually. Obligated funds of $170,652 cover supplies ($95,999 for GPS collars, stackyard materials, and brucellosis kits) and contractual costs ($6,392 for elk capture and aerial surveys). Period of performance runs from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. The recipient reports no sub-recipient activities for this award.

Purpose

The purpose of this agreement is to provide monitoring and survey activities to prevent the spread of brucellosis among wildlife and domestic animals.

Activities

1) provide hunter harvested ELK surveillance with the fabrication of at least 8000 blood collection kits: priority surveillance areas include the eastern and western slope of the bighorn mountains and outside the border of the designated surveillance area. 2) distribution and surveillance of ELK utilizing GPS collars (20 collars). 3) continue to increase surveillance activities in the lander region by providing one temporary staff member to assist with brucellosis program development while continuing to collaborate with the wind river indian reservation by increasing hunter-harvested sample submission. 4) provide fencing for ranchers stored feed 9 new areas and increase work on damage mitigation efforts. Deliverables and expected outcomes: (a) improved ELK surveillance for brucellosis - 10 surveillance areas with an additional 9 areas with increased surveillance. (b) reduced brucellosis transmission to cattle for promoting a healthy and secure food supply. This is difficult to quantify but IT can be stated that 3 of 4 cattle herds were released from quarantine in the past year and this allowed these producers and their neighbors to conduct business as usual. Beneficiaries: livestock producers (10,500 - 12,000 in wyoming) and consumers (difficult to quantify because most cattle are shipped out of state, but wyoming cattle account for over $1 billion in direct output annually).

Subrecipient activities

None. Budget: supplies - ($95,999) GPS collars, stackyard materials, and brucellosis kits. Contractual - ($6,392) ELK capture and ariel surveys.