Alberta deer diseased?

[GoatGuy]

We likely wont ever have the CWD issue to the extent that they do, due to our geography in BC and the dispersion of deer. (as someone mentioned above)

Don't be so sure. No link to geographic barriers - deer don't know they're crossing the bc/alb border.

There's an apparent correlation with animal density but we still don't know enough.

My guess is if it shows it'll be in the Peace. With the high density of deer that they seem to accumulate that's my best guess, close prox to alb and game farms.

[GoatGuy]

CWD has been around for a long long time, it has been found just about everywhere in North America that deer and elk are found. If you test for it it will eventually turn up some cases. If you shot 1800 deer in an area in BC , tested them all you would very likely find a handful of cases just like they do when they test most any other area that has deer or elk. BC dosen't test for it, they don't 'want' to find it.

Testing has been going on for the past couple years in BC.

No positive cases


States/Provinces with it usually have native game farming (cervids) of some sort which often spreads into wild populations. Also linked to high densities and possibility through baiting and or use of 'natural' attractants which may come from an infected population.

Still don't know exactly how transmision occurs - could possibly be left in the soil.

You'll probably see more about it in the future - it's certainly on the radar.