Two more wild deer in Alberta have tested positive for chronic wasting disease, bringing the total to three.
The two deer were found southwest of Oyen, the same area as one that tested positive at the beginning of September.
After the discovery of the first wild deer, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development staff shot 133 wild deer in the area in mid-September. The two infected deer were among those shot during the surveillance program and were within 10 kilometres of where the first infected deer was found.
“It is most unfortunate that more wild deer were found with the disease, but this was not unexpected and confirms that Alberta’s CWD surveillance process is working,” said David Coutts, minister of Sustainable Resource Development in a News release
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“We want to do everything we can to keep new deer from becoming infected and will be following up with another collection of deer in the area.”
An information meeting will be held in the Acadia Valley Community Hall on Oct. 11.
Extra deer licences have been allocated for along the Saskatchewan and Alberta border and hunters are asked to submit the heads for CWD testing.
Chronic wasting disease affects the central nervous system and the brain, causing the animal to slowly waste away.
There have been 68 confirmed cases of CWD in wild deer in Saskatchewan.
