A limited deer harvest will take place in the Kootenays this year as the province begins checking for chronic wasting disease.
The province specifies that the collection will involve 25 deer and will occur within 10 kilometres of confirmed cases.
The objective is to find out if there are more cases in the region. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an infectious and deadly illness that affects animals in the deer family, including deer, elk, moose, and caribou.
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship states that a wildlife permit will be granted to the Tobacco Plains Indian Band to gather up to 20 mule deer (mostly males) and five white-tailed deer (only males) by March 31.
“After testing, all deer bodies that test negative for CWD will be utilized by the community or given to food banks,” the ministry explained.
Lately, the province introduced CWD testing in the region. It also imposed rules on moving and disposing of any road-killed cervids in areas with CWD cases.
Officials mention that there is no solid proof of CWD spreading to humans, but Health Canada advises against consuming the meat or other parts of an infected animal.
The public is urged to report any sightings of deer, elk, moose, or caribou displaying symptoms like weight loss, dribbling, poor coordination, stumbling, or appearing generally unwell without an obvious cause.
Reports can be made to the RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters) line at 1-877-952-7277.
More information about chronic wasting disease is available online.
A map showing the area where the harvest will take place is also available online.
