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U.S. reports world’s first deer with COVID-19

Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. government said Friday it had confirmed the world’s first cases of COVID-19 in deer, expanding the list of animals known to have tested positive for the disease. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported infections of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in wild white-tailed deer in the state of […] Read more

The U.S. National Wildlife Health Center’s map of CWD’s distribution in North America as of December 2020. (USGS.gov)

Ontario to limit imports, transport of live elk, deer

Moves meant to keep out chronic wasting disease

Moving live captive cervids such as elk, deer, moose and caribou into or within Ontario is set to be banned under new provincial regulations to keep out chronic wasting disease (CWD). The province said Thursday it has amended regulations under its Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act that will ban anyone from importing live, captive cervids […] Read more

The U.S. National Wildlife Health Center and U.S. Geological Survey produce this map of CWD’s current distribution in North America. The version shown here is current to Sept. 9, 2019. (NWHC.usgs.gov)

Deer heads required from Kootenay region for CWD tests

The discovery of chronic wasting disease in deer in northwestern Montana has officials in CWD-free British Columbia tightening their testing net. The province on Wednesday announced a mandatory sampling program, in which hunters must submit heads from mule deer and white-tailed deer harvested in wildlife management units 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6 and 4-7 […] Read more

The U.S. National Wildlife Health Center and U.S. Geological Survey in November 2017 produced this map of CWD’s current distribution in North America. (NWHC.usgs.gov)

B.C. to block hunting attractants from out-of-province

Anyone planning to hunt in British Columbia may soon be blocked from bringing in urine and other materials from other provinces’ farmed elk and cervids, in a bid to keep chronic wasting disease (CWD) in check. The provincial government recently opened a public comment period, running until Jan. 19, on a list of changes it […] Read more

Signs of CWD, as shown by this elk, include progressive weight loss, reluctance to move, excessive salivation, droopy ears, increased drinking and urinating and lethargy. (Wyoming Game and Fish Department photo, WGFD.wyo.gov)

Federal response tightened for chronic wasting disease

Canadian ranchers raising cervids such as elk, deer and moose will soon have to get in on certification programs before they can be eligible for any federal help in the event of a chronic wasting disease (CWD) outbreak. One of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) family of nervous system diseases, such as BSE in cattle […] Read more