Elk farmers not surprised by CWD finding

Elk farmers not surprised by CWD finding

Producers say the province was on borrowed time, given the number of mule deer coming in from Saskatchewan

Manitoba’s elk producers aren’t surprised that the province has seen its first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD). With an increasing population of mule deer spreading east from Saskatchewan, they say it was bound to happen. The province announced Manitoba’s first CWD case Nov. 1, found in a visibly sick male mule deer euthanized near



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

U.S. tests OK for CFIA chronic wasting disease certification

U.S. tests OK for CFIA chronic wasting disease certification

ELK | The allowance is meant to help producers enrolled in herd certification, but sending their animals to the U.S. for slaughter

elk The allowance is meant to aid producers enrolled in herd certification, but sending their animals to the U.S. for slaughter

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has eliminated one irritating piece of red tape for Canadian-born elk slaughtered in the U.S. Canada’s voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program will now accept test results from American labs. Results can now come from labs certified under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health


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

Ian Thorleifson’s elk operation will feel the effect when the CFIA tightens chronic wasting disease regulations this year.

Cervid producers call foul on CFIA participation requirement

They say a new move to require participation in a ‘voluntary’ program if farmers want support isn’t helpful for areas without CWD

Manitoba elk and deer producers are less than impressed with incoming federal rules over chronic wasting disease (CWD). As of April 1, producers who want federal help with CWD are going to have to be part of the CFIA’s Voluntary Herd Certification Program. They’ll only be compensated for destroyed animals if they are registered with





Photo: State of Delaware website

U.S. researchers develop CWD vaccine

Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center and elsewhere say that a vaccination they have developed to fight a brain-based, wasting syndrome among deer and other animals may hold promise on two additional fronts: Protecting U.S. livestock from contracting the disease, and preventing similar brain infections in humans. The study, to be published in Vaccine online