Between a rock and a hard place: Experiences of the chronic wasting disease management community
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Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a widespread and incurable cervid disease. Despite continuing investments, the logistical challenges of CWD have required wildlife managers and researchers to navigate changing priorities with conflicting public perceptions. When overcoming difficult management problems, leveraging exploratory methods may identify previously unrecognized hypotheses. In this study, we interviewed wildlife managers and researchers to describe the diverse experiences of experts in the CWD management community. Our study asked about common management strategies used, challenges experienced, and attempted to understand how decision-making in CWD management is shaped and constrained. Our study participants experienced a wide range of constraining factors, primarily related to external influences. We also identified connections between these constraints and a common concern for staff and public burnout. The results of this study provide insight on constraints limiting CWD management success and possible explanations for some commonly recognized challenges resulting from social and ecological interactions.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Between a rock and a hard place: Experiences of the chronic wasting disease management community |
| Series title | Journal of Society and Natural Resources |
| DOI | 10.1080/08941920.2025.2562402 |
| Edition | Online First |
| Publication Date | December 23, 2025 |
| Year Published | 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis |
| Contributing office(s) | Fort Collins Science Center |