Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

The Game & Fish Commission Wyoming received a $170,652 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025), effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. The award funds brucellosis surveillance and monitoring activities designed to prevent disease transmission between wildlife and domestic livestock in Wyoming. Primary deliverables include fabrication and distribution of 8,000 blood collection kits for hunter-harvested elk surveillance across 10 established surveillance areas plus 9 additional areas, deployment of 20 GPS collars to track elk populations, and installation of protective fencing for stored feed at 9 ranching locations to reduce wildlife exposure and disease transmission risk.

Supporting activities include temporary staffing in the Lander region to advance brucellosis program development and strengthen collaboration with the Wind River Indian Reservation for increased sample submission. The agreement is structured with $95,999 allocated for supplies (GPS collars, stackyard materials, and brucellosis kits) and $6,392 for contractual services (elk capture and aerial surveys). Expected outcomes include improved brucellosis surveillance across multiple Wyoming regions and reduced disease transmission to cattle herds, with demonstrated impact including the release of three of four previously quarantined cattle herds, benefiting approximately 10,500 to 12,000 livestock producers and supporting Wyoming's $1 billion annual cattle production output.