A deer in Cranbrook has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This is the sixth confirmed case in the area since early 2024. The news was shared by Holger Bohm, a provincial wildlife biologist, during a recent public session focused on wildlife management.
At this meeting, which took place on March 13 at the Heritage Inn, Bohm discussed CWD and its management in the Kootenay region. Jessica Russel, an expert in biosecurity and research, also provided insights into how CWD has been handled in other parts of Canada and the United States.
The testing involved a program that collected samples from urban deer herds. Out of 100 samples taken from the Cranbrook herd, 94 were processed; one tested positive for CWD, while results for the remaining six were still pending.
There was also a similar sampling initiative in Kimberley, which aimed to collect 100 samples. However, due to some community pushback, only 26 samples were gathered. So far, 15 of those samples have been processed, and all returned negative results.
The CWD sampling process is quite invasive. Deer are captured using darting and euthanized to collect brain stem or lymph node tissue for testing. Unfortunately, there is no way to collect these samples and keep the deer alive.
Adding to the CWD management efforts, the province recently conducted a special hunt, issuing 118 permits for local hunters to harvest deer in rural areas around Cranbrook. Only 36 deer heads were returned for testing, despite the large number of permits. It’s unclear why more were not submitted. Bohm and his team are eager to hear from those who received permits but didn’t return heads, hoping to understand the low participation.
CWD is a neurological disease affecting cervids such as deer, elk, and moose. It’s caused by prions—abnormal proteins that damage brain cells, resulting in certain death for the affected animal. These prions can contaminate water and vegetation when shed through the deer’s saliva, urine, or feces. While there’s no treatment or known effect on humans or livestock, health officials recommend against eating any animal that tests positive for CWD.
In 2022, the number of reported CWD cases in North America reached over 1,500, marking a worrying trend that conservationists are watching closely. Awareness campaigns about CWD are increasing, especially on social media platforms, where discussions around wildlife health and safety are prevalent. Protecting wildlife and understanding CWD is crucial for the health of both ecosystems and local communities.
For more detailed information about CWD, you can visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for updates and safety recommendations.
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