So I guess, if one harvests a healthy looking animal the head should be submitted for testing and then wait for the results before consuming the meat?
I submitted my head in late Sept and it still hasn't been processed or at least displayed on the website. If the province is serious about testing and transmission to humans then it needs to increase the turn around time for the results. There's only 209 results and it states "Not all submissions have been processed yet" and we're into Feb now. I guess I'll have to call to follow up.
Last edited by superdrupal; 02-01-2024 at 08:04 PM.
I wonder if they finally cull the urban mule deer populations. It has been a controversial issue in Cranbrook and Kimberley. If I am not mistaken most of the CWD transmission in areas like Libby, MT are through these urban deer.
CWD affects all ungulates so it makes sense that elk that wandered over to the Alberta side and then wandered back could have started the spread. At this point, there is no natural way to stop the spread of prions, so once the ground becomes infected all it takes is a deer or elk to consume grass contaminated with prions and the deadly cycle begins. Fish and Wildlife in BC as well as Alberta should insure that all ungulate carcasses are collected and disposed of in local landfills. But seriously with the lack of manpower this will be impossible to enforce. And not to be negative but it is going to be hard to stop from affecting all ungulate populations in BC, and Alberta. As far as affecting humans, why do you think they are doing the CWD testing in the first place. Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but there is no vaccine for this medical condition in ungulates as it is a mutated protein, not a virus. Once the animal gets infected it wastes away to become zombie like till it dies. Believe me when I say if I ever got infected with CWD, shortly after the diagnosis I will be signing up for MAID service.
This could be the beginning of the end for hunting in BC. I wonder if there will be any new restrictions in the new regulations when they come out? Why hunt for something if your advised not to consume it?
This could be the beginning of the end for hunting in BC. I wonder if there will be any new restrictions in the new regulations when they come out? Why hunt for something if your advised not to consume it?
This will be weaponised against us for sure. Death by 1000 cuts.
This could be the beginning of the end for hunting in BC. I wonder if there will be any new restrictions in the new regulations when they come out? Why hunt for something if your advised not to consume it?
Its concerning for sure. But if it's tested and negative, eat it. If it's tested and positive, probably a good thing that it was killed (one less to spread the disease).
Not really a good argument to be made for not hunting them. Mandatory submission and testing is probably the best way to monitor it's spread.
CwD has been in the states, Alberta and Sask for a long time and people still hunt deer in those jurisdictions.
Agree its a serious issue. Problem is news outlets( like CBC) headlining articles calling them "zombie deer".
... Problem is news outlets( like CBC) headlining articles calling them "zombie deer".
I've seen both mulies & elk in the final stages of this disease in Southern Alberta.
While I am no fan of the MSM (and especially CBC) that description is apt.
It is VERY Disturbing to witness!
I submitted my head in late Sept and it still hasn't been processed or at least displayed on the website. If the province is serious about testing and transmission to humans then it needs to increase the turn around time for the results. There's only 209 results and it states "Not all submissions have been processed yet" and we're into Feb now. I guess I'll have to call to follow up.
Im not surprised at all, I can say from experience as a provincial meat inspector that if mad cow disease or any other prion disease was a major issue, the inspection agency would do nothing to prevent it. This is how stupid it was.
Any cow over 30 months would have its spine cut out and skull saved, also a part between the large and small intestine. Lets say they slaughtered 5 cows you would think they would keep them separate so if any prion disease were to be detected you could identify the animal and trace it back to the farm and figure out how to stop further infection and also notify the owner/consumers of that beef. NOPE! They just throw it all in a huge pile, sender in and within 6 months they test their big pile of scraps to see if someone out there from whatever farm is consuming meat with mad cow disease.
Im sure the CWD system is the same or even worse, BC seems to have the worst game management in North America and run their management on public emotion from the anti hunters and taking as little positive action as possible
- A hunter who doesn't bring home the meat is just an outdoor enthusiast