(Submitted photo/Government of Saskatchewan)

By Derek Craddock

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE

Province earmarks specific wildlife management zones for Chronic Wasting Disease testing

Sep 13, 2021 | 10:56 AM

The province is asking for help from Saskatchewan hunters to better understand the effects of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

The Ministry of Environment is asking hunters to submit the heads of deer, moose and elk harvested this season from any wildlife management zone (WMZ) for testing.

“Chronic Wasting Disease is a serious issue in our province and hunters play a vital role in its detection and surveillance,” said Environment Minister Warren Kaeding.

“Last year, nearly 3,000 heads were submitted for testing. This level of sampling wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of the hunting community and is critical to the success of the CWD Surveillance Program.”

Chronic wasting disease is an infectious central nervous system disease that is fatal to deer who catch it. There is currently no cure and the disease is found in 56 of the province’s 83 WMZ.

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The Environment Ministry is looking for animals from several zones including zone 50 near Prince Albert and zone 55 in Meadow Lake.

Other zones include 2W, 9, 10, 35 and 37.

Last year, testing found Chronic Wasting Disease in five moose in the province. As a result, moose hunters are encouraged to submit moose for testing in the hopes of further understanding the disease in that species.

Hunters who want to drop off a head for testing need to obtain a CWD Tracking Number online.

Although no documented cases of the disease have been found in humans, hunters are asked to refrain from eating or distributing meat from an animal that has tested positive.

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Derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @PA_Craddock