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Deer hunters' help sought in C.W.D. monitoring
Deer hunters' help sought in C.W.D. monitoring
M.N.R. surveillance program continuing in 2009
Chronic Wasting Disease (C.W.D.) is a fatal brain disease of white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and potentially woodland caribou. It is also rarely found in moose. It is present in deer and elk in Alberta, Saskatchewan and several U.S. states. Fortunately, it has not yet been found in Ontario.
C.W.D. is thought to be spread by close contact between animals. The appearance of symptoms, which include poor body condition, tremors, stumbling, increased salivation, difficulty swallowing, and excessive thirst or urination, can be delayed anywhere from months to years after an animal is infected.
There is currently no scientific evidence that C.W.D. can spread to humans, either through contact with infected animals or by eating meat from infected animals, however public health officials encourage hunters not to consume meat from C.W.D.-infected animals. Hunters are further encouraged to take precautions when field dressing and processing deer and elk to protect themselves against diseases and parasites.
Beginning in October, the Ministry of Natural Resources (M.N.R.) is once again conducting a C.W.D. surveillance program, and is seeking the assistance of deer hunters within designated areas. (Animals outside of these areas cannot be tested unless they show obvious signs of sickness.)
In 2009, these Wildlife Management Units will be surveyed:
- 64A, 64B, 65, 66A, 66B (Cornwall – Brockville – Ottawa Area)
- 76A, 76B, 76C, 76D, 77A, 77B, 77C, 78B, 78C, 78D, 78E, 81A, 81B (Toronto – Barrie – Midland Area)
- 11B, 12A, 12B, 13, 14, 28 (Atikokan – Thunder Bay – Nipigon Area and Kirkland Lake – New Liskeard Area)
Most sampling will be done during the firearms hunt. Roving crews of M.N.R. wildlife research technicians will canvas the surveillance areas and visit local hunt camps. They will ask hunters' permission to remove a small amount of tissue from the harvested deer for analysis. Sampling will not prevent hunters from consuming the meat or having the head mounted.
Bow hunters and firearms hunters missed by the roving crews may take the head of their yearling or older deer (no fawns) for deposit in an M.N.R. freezer at a designated depot. A list of depots is available at www.ontario.ca/CWD.
Depots in Thunder Bay, Ignace, Nipigon and Atikokan opened in September, and the remaining depots will open in October. All depots will close in December, unless target numbers are reached earlier.
Results of the tissue sampling will be posted online, and participating hunters will be provided with a reference number to check the status of their deer.
The M.N.R. acknowledges the participation of deer hunters in the success of this monitoring program. Since 2002 6,300 white-tailed deer have been tested for C.W.D. across Ontario, with no positive tests to date.
For general information regarding the sampling program, contact Dr. Rick Rosatte at 705-755-2280 or Tore Buchanan at 705-755-2275 at the Applied Research and Development Branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
To learn more about C.W.D., to view the list of C.W.D. freezer depot locations, or to check lab results, visit www.ontario.ca/CWD
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