Twenty new cases of chronic wasting disease in wild deer have been identified in Alberta since Sept. 1.
An April 1 Alberta government news release said more than 5,000 hunter-killed deer have been tested since last fall.
CWD was discovered in 17 mule deer and two white-tailed deer. The 20th case was found in a road-killed animal.
Most cases of infected deer were found in the southwest, close to the Alberta-Saskatchewan border.
However, four cases were found along the Red Deer River near Dinosaur Provincial Park. They were the westernmost cases discovered.
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One new case was also found east of Derwent, Alta., which is the first linked to the main valley of the North Saskatchewan River, said the news release.
“Current strategies for monitoring the spread of chronic wasting disease include maximizing the harvest of deer in risk areas and tracking the change in geographic and numerical distribution of the disease,” said the release.
“New plans for management are also being examined.”
Darcy Whiteside, spokesperson with the provincial department of sustainable resources and development, said hunting data and deer population information gathered this year will be used to develop a plan for future management.
“Now it’s taking that info and having our experts look at it and provide us with the next steps for this year.”
Government officials continue to test road-killed deer, moose and elk and deer that died as a result of harsh winter conditions this year.
Whiteside said deep and crusted snow forced many deer to travel by road when foraging, which increased road kills. His department will try to determine the effect of the harsh winter on deer, antelope and moose populations.
CWD was first discovered in Alberta in 2005. Ninety-four cases have since been found in Alberta wild deer.
