The number of new cases of chronic wasting disease in wild deer has spiked in Saskatchewan this year, reports Saskatchewan Environment.
Marv Hlady, the department’s CWD provincial manager, said there have been 101 positive cases of CWD in Saskatchewan, including more than 35 this year alone.
The infectious neurological disease was first discovered in the wild in Saskatchewan in 2000.
“Anytime you have CWD, it’s not good. If you find one case, it’s something to take note of,” he said.
The department’s response is to issue more hunting permits to cull herds in affected areas. They include the six newest cases in the Love-Nipawin area in addition to areas near Darcy, St. Walburg, Lloydminster and Saskatchewan Landing.
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Hlady was unsure why cases have spiked, but noted the department has steadily increased its CWD testing to more than 27,000 heads.
“If you look harder and take more heads in, the chances of finding more deer are greater,” he said.
Two of the deer found near Love were hunted over a bait pile, a common hunting practice in forested areas, he said. Deer are also drawn to feed piles and bales on farm sites.
“Anytime you congregate deer, you increase the spread of disease,” said Hlady.
CWD was first diagnosed in captive deer and elk in Colorado in the 1970s and moved to wild populations in the 1980s. It has also been found in farmed and wild elk and deer populations in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
