BC Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program

[BC-CWD]

hmmm had a draw in southern Alberta...buck looked fine however tested positive..head /meat was retrieved and incinerated at local co-gen plant.
on another hunt north of Quesnel noticed a emaciated bone RACK ELK..so far gone he was staggering..2 hours on the phone couldnt find anyone interested in the sick elk.gotta be better than that..
good luck on the project to deal with this issue.
cheers
Steven

Thanks Steven, sorry to hear about your troubles with reporting. I'd recommend all reports with concerns of CWD be directed to the Wildlife Health Office (call 250 751-3219 or email Cait.Nelson@gov.bc.ca).

You bring up a good point though; The vast majority if CWD-positive animals are going to look healthy. Once an animal picks up CWD prions, they start multiplying in the body. It can take 18 months or more before there's enough of them in the brain to start causing problems and the animal can be spreading prions around well before that happens. Once you start seeing physical symptoms they might only have a few weeks left, though it can vary.