Zombie Deer: Is it Canada's Problem Now?

Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is a horrible neurological disease that affects cervids such as deer and moose. The disease which is caused by a type of aberrant protein called prions that collect in the nervous system is fatal and has no cure. CWD has been spreading at an alarming rate south of the border in the U.S. but was still yet to reach Canada, until recently. Two infected deer were found in the Southern Kootenays not long ago sparking fear and alarm from both indigenous and provincial authorities alike.

Last Tuesday the B.C. government rolled out a set of new rules, including implementation of testing measures, to try and halt the spread of the disease. If CWD continues to spread within the province, and the country, it could have extremely detrimental impacts to both conservation efforts and indigenous communities alike. With many First Nations relying on hunting for their sustenance and culture, further spreading of the disease could stand to pose a risk to these activities. In the past harvesters that possessed treaty rights to hunt have not been required to submit their kills for testing. However, with the spread of CWD North of the border the government has encouraged everyone to not handle or consume harvested meat from affected areas without getting it tested for the prions. Although the consensus isn’t in on whether the meat is safe to consume or not, a similar prion based disease, Creutzfeld-Jakob or Mad Cow disease, has spread from animals to humans in the past causing concerns over the harvested venison to arise.

On the other-hand, licensed hunters without treaty rights in the affected area have been required to submit the heads of deer they’ve killed for testing since 2019, at the same time any and all roadkill in the region is now being collected for testing, with strict regulations on the disposal and transport of carcasses. Although CWD is shaping up to be extremely detrimental for hunters and First Nations communities there is also another aspect to consider: conservation.

With the introduction of the wasting disease into B.C. conservationists are also worried. The already stressed herds of elk and the moose and deer populations which have been severely impacted by human activities and climate change will be at further risk now. If the disease spreads further the threatened populations of cervids in the area may not be able to endure the added stress and conservation efforts may become next to impossible, robbing essential species from the area and impacting the environment in unprecedented ways.

While it is yet to be seen if the outbreak in Canada can be contained, we must hold out hope that the disease does not spread further for the sake of the ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.

SOURCE:

The Narwhal. https://thenarwhal.ca/first-nations-chronic-wasting-disease-threat/