PeaceRegionInfo
11-03-2009, 08:54 AM
WANTED!!
ALL DEER and ELK HUNTERS IN BC:
We Need Your Help with
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD)
SURVEILLANCE
Disease Overview
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) affects deer, elk and moose. It is associated with abnormal protein accumulations in the brain and is related to diseases such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis in cattle and scrapie in sheep. It is found in free-ranging mule deer, elk and/or white-tailed deer in Saskatchewan, Alberta and many U.S. states. Infections have been reported in farmed deer and elk in a number of states, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Korea.
Background and Signs of Disease
CWD was first identified in the 1970s in Colorado and Wyoming deer, followed by intensive surveillance, research and management activities in many jurisdictions. CWD occurs ONLY in cervids, with no evidence of transmission to other species, including cattle. In deer, elk and moose, early signs of disease include changes in behaviour and weight loss. Signs in later stages of the disease include severe wasting, excessive salivation and thirst, lethargy, incoordination, and drooping head and ears.
Life Cycle
We don’t know exactly how CWD is transmitted. The disease is believed to pass from one animal to another through infected urine, saliva and/or feces. Infectious material can survive in the environment for a long time; research with captive animals has shown that animals can become infected from living in a contaminated environment. The disease can only be diagnosed by examining tissues from a dead animal’s head area – the tonsils, lymph nodes and a small area at the base of the brain.
CWD in British Columbia
BC is considered at low risk for CWD. To maintain this status, testing of a large number of animals is necessary. Surveillance for CWD has been in place in British Columbia since 2001. The heads of animals that are showing clinical signs (as described above), or are road or hunter-killed are collected. Efforts are concentrated in the Peace and East Kootenay Regions since these are closest to areas at higher risk. To date all results have been negative.
Public Significance
There is no evidence that CWD can infect humans. As a precaution, human health authorities recommend that all products from sick animals or those known to be infected with any prion disease should be excluded from the human food chain and tissues such as nervous and lymphatic tissue should not be consumed from any hunted deer.
For more information see the pamphlet: CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
*** Peace Region Hunters ***
Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
GOOD SAMPLE:
Freshly dead
Frozen immediately after death
Not shot in head
Antlers on or off
Upper part of the neck still attached
Good information about the kill location
Older than one year
Tag filled out and attached to ear
BAD SAMPLE:
Rotten, green, and/or stinks
Head is severely damaged
Shot in head
Head cut off too closely, no neck
No information on where found or killed
One year or less of age
No tag attached to ear
INSTRUCTIONS FOR DROP-OFF:
Take a tag and a piece of wire
Fill out all fields on the tag:
Hunter licence number- so we can notify you if needed
Species
Sex of animal
Location of kill, Management Unit, plus GPS or physical description of location
Approximate age of kill (yearling or adult)
Date of kill
Did the animal look normal? If not, what was it doing?
Attach tag to ear with wire
Put head in provided bag
Seal the bag
Put in the freezerDROP OFF LOCATIONS IN THE PEACE REGION:
1) North Peace Rod & Gun Club: Al Phillipe 250.785.9686
2) Charlie Lake Meats: Wally Pence 250.785.2210
3) FSJ Ministry of Environment: 250.787.3411
4) Peace Taxidermy: Basil Szoo 250.785.3468
5) District of Hudson's Hope public works: Sam Kosolowsky 250. 783.9479
6) Rocky Mtn Taxidermy: Peter Bruhs 250.786.7961
7) Omineca Meats: Ben Erminetrout 250.782.3271
8 Russell's Custom Meat Cutting: Mike Russell 250.788.2518
Thank you for your support of this important program to ensure the health of our wildlife!
ALL DEER and ELK HUNTERS IN BC:
We Need Your Help with
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD)
SURVEILLANCE
Disease Overview
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) affects deer, elk and moose. It is associated with abnormal protein accumulations in the brain and is related to diseases such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis in cattle and scrapie in sheep. It is found in free-ranging mule deer, elk and/or white-tailed deer in Saskatchewan, Alberta and many U.S. states. Infections have been reported in farmed deer and elk in a number of states, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Korea.
Background and Signs of Disease
CWD was first identified in the 1970s in Colorado and Wyoming deer, followed by intensive surveillance, research and management activities in many jurisdictions. CWD occurs ONLY in cervids, with no evidence of transmission to other species, including cattle. In deer, elk and moose, early signs of disease include changes in behaviour and weight loss. Signs in later stages of the disease include severe wasting, excessive salivation and thirst, lethargy, incoordination, and drooping head and ears.
Life Cycle
We don’t know exactly how CWD is transmitted. The disease is believed to pass from one animal to another through infected urine, saliva and/or feces. Infectious material can survive in the environment for a long time; research with captive animals has shown that animals can become infected from living in a contaminated environment. The disease can only be diagnosed by examining tissues from a dead animal’s head area – the tonsils, lymph nodes and a small area at the base of the brain.
CWD in British Columbia
BC is considered at low risk for CWD. To maintain this status, testing of a large number of animals is necessary. Surveillance for CWD has been in place in British Columbia since 2001. The heads of animals that are showing clinical signs (as described above), or are road or hunter-killed are collected. Efforts are concentrated in the Peace and East Kootenay Regions since these are closest to areas at higher risk. To date all results have been negative.
Public Significance
There is no evidence that CWD can infect humans. As a precaution, human health authorities recommend that all products from sick animals or those known to be infected with any prion disease should be excluded from the human food chain and tissues such as nervous and lymphatic tissue should not be consumed from any hunted deer.
For more information see the pamphlet: CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
*** Peace Region Hunters ***
Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program
GOOD SAMPLE:
Freshly dead
Frozen immediately after death
Not shot in head
Antlers on or off
Upper part of the neck still attached
Good information about the kill location
Older than one year
Tag filled out and attached to ear
BAD SAMPLE:
Rotten, green, and/or stinks
Head is severely damaged
Shot in head
Head cut off too closely, no neck
No information on where found or killed
One year or less of age
No tag attached to ear
INSTRUCTIONS FOR DROP-OFF:
Take a tag and a piece of wire
Fill out all fields on the tag:
Hunter licence number- so we can notify you if needed
Species
Sex of animal
Location of kill, Management Unit, plus GPS or physical description of location
Approximate age of kill (yearling or adult)
Date of kill
Did the animal look normal? If not, what was it doing?
Attach tag to ear with wire
Put head in provided bag
Seal the bag
Put in the freezerDROP OFF LOCATIONS IN THE PEACE REGION:
1) North Peace Rod & Gun Club: Al Phillipe 250.785.9686
2) Charlie Lake Meats: Wally Pence 250.785.2210
3) FSJ Ministry of Environment: 250.787.3411
4) Peace Taxidermy: Basil Szoo 250.785.3468
5) District of Hudson's Hope public works: Sam Kosolowsky 250. 783.9479
6) Rocky Mtn Taxidermy: Peter Bruhs 250.786.7961
7) Omineca Meats: Ben Erminetrout 250.782.3271
8 Russell's Custom Meat Cutting: Mike Russell 250.788.2518
Thank you for your support of this important program to ensure the health of our wildlife!