By Angela Brown

Chronic Wasting Disease remains a concern in NW Region

Dec 11, 2021 | 2:50 PM

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask.—The province is reminding Saskatchewan hunters to get their animals tested in an effort to monitor deer, elk, reindeer, and moose (cervids) for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

“Unfortunately, we are seeing an uptick in the number of cases, as we have over the last 20 years,” Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment wildlife health specialist Iga Stasiak told battlefordsNOW. “The disease is continuing to expand across the province. So we have seen increased rates.”

The expert noted this year’s data hasn’t been analyzed yet. But the province doesn’t expect to see significant changes from the numbers reported from the last couple of years.

The Battlefords and the North West Region have moderate-to-high infection rates.

“Part of the reason for that is that Chronic Wasting Disease was detected in the province back in 2000, south of Lloydminster in the Manitou Sandhills region,” Stasiak said. “So we have sort of an expansion of the disease in that general area. In the North Battleford area, we are seeing infection rates around 25 to 35 per cent in male mule deers, and about half of that in female mule deers.”

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She said it is a little more difficult to determine whitetail deer infection rates in the North West Region because fewer of these samples have been submitted for testing. But rates could be as high as 20 per cent for these animals in this region.

From throughout the province, a total of 338 mule deers and 118 whitetail deers tested positive from samples submitted in the 2020-2021 surveillance program.

Stasiak noted unfortunately the disease has a long incubation period, so it is difficult to determine whether an animal is infected with CWD with a visual assessment. Animals can still look perfectly healthy until the late stages of the disease.

“Typically hunters would not see any changes,” she said. “[The animals] could look healthy and they could still be infected.”

It’s only in the last few months of being infected with the disease that the animal would start showing signs, which could include weight loss, having a rough hair coat, and changes in behaviour. The animal might also appear weak, and stagger or seem disoriented.

No cases in humans

According to the province, there are no documented cases of CWD in humans. But hunters are advised to refrain from eating or distributing meat that has tested positive. As well, the carcass or meat from these animals should be disposed of in a Ministry-approved landfill.

In terms of prevention, Stasiak said the province recommends hunters avoid transporting entire carcass sections over long distances, especially high-risk parts such as an animal’s spinal column.

Hunters are also asked not to bait and feed animals since that can cause animals to congregate, which can increase transmission if an animal is infected.

The highest risk area for CWD in the province is the South Saskatchewan River Valley area at this time.

While surveillance program participation numbers vary across the province, currently in some of the high prevalence areas only about 25 to 30 per cent of mule deer hunters take part, and about five to 10 per cent of whitetail deer hunters.

Stasiak encourages more hunters to participate in the program. It usually takes about three to four weeks for testing results to come back.

“We really appreciate hunters submitting heads for testing,” she said. “That’s helpful information for us in terms of tracking the disease.”

To access a drop-off site to have an animal tested, hunters can visit the province’s website.

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow