Two wood bison outside provincial and national parks in northern Alberta have tested positive for brucellosis.
The discovery has prompted the fish and wildlife department to plan removal of all free-ranging wood bison detected near private agricultural land around Fort Vermilion and La Crete and within 10 kilometres of Highway 35.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report all bison sightings in the area west of Wood Buffalo National Park and east of Highway 35,” said a June 29 government news release.
“Please notify local fish and wildlife offices. Under provincial legislation, wood bison east of Highway 35 and west of Wood Buffalo National Park can be hunted without a licence, except in Caribou Mountains Wildland Provincial Park.”
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The strategy is designed to limit spread of brucellosis within bison herds as well as nearby cattle herds.
Bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis have been present in bison within Wood Buffalo National Park for decades. Samples were recently taken from four bison in the Wabasca herd near Harper Creek and seven from the Wentzel Lake herd in Caribou Mountains Wildland Provincial Park.
Two from the latter seven had brucellosis and a third is still being tested, said the release.
Wood bison are considered a threatened species in Canada and are listed as endangered within a specific area of northwestern Alberta.
