Chronic Wasting Disease

Last updated on March 19, 2024

Hunting licence condition: Mandatory submission for CWD testing is required for white-tailed and mule deer harvested in MUs 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7, 4-8, 4-23, 4-24 and 4-25 within one week of harvest.

Visit CWD Surveillance & Testing for submission instructions

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal infection that affects species in the deer family (cervids) such as mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose and caribou. 

CWD has been confirmed in deer from the Kootenay Region. In accordance with the Surveillance and Response Plan for CWD in B.C.(PDF, 650KB), the Provincial Wildlife Veterinarian is leading response management with support and input from the CWD Advisory Committee and Regional Working Groups, which include First Nations, stakeholders, CWD experts and other partners.

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Latest news and resources

The latest news and resources for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) will be posted here. Learn more and help us to spread the word by sharing this content.  

 

Province will harvest 25 deer for chronic wasting disease testing - Mar 12, 2024

The Province is taking further action to address chronic wasting disease by conducting a limited deer harvest in the Kootenay region where two deer samples tested positive for chronic wasting disease earlier this year.

 

New restrictions for region affected by Chronic Wasting Disease - February 13, 2024

The Chief Veterinarian has issued General Order CWD2024-001 (PDF, 255 KB) in response to the detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in B.C. The restrictions apply within the Initial Response Area (PDF, 545KB), defined as Management Units 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, and a portion of 4-22. This is south of and including Highway 3, which is situated between south of Cranbrook toward the United States border, west to the Moyie Range, and east to the Macdonald Range. The order applies to all cervids, including deer, elk, moose and caribou.

All persons who collect found dead cervids, or parts of found dead cervids (including cervids harvested as a result of hunting) in the response area must:

  • Submit heads for testing to a government testing site or drop-off location
  • Not remove or use, untested portions of any cervid from the response area. Until testing is complete and the result is confirmed negative for the presence of CWD, untested portions may only be either:
    • transported to a Designated Disposal Site
    • held in a secure, leak-proof storage container
  • Portions of any collected cervid which tests positive for CWD must be held in a secure, leak-proof storage container until further instructions are received from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

Designated Disposal Sites

 

B.C. responds to first cases of chronic wasting disease in deer - Feb 1, 2024

The Province is responding to the first cases of chronic wasting disease in British Columbia, found in two deer samples from the Kootenay Region.

 

Surveillance and Response Plan for CWD in B.C. updated July 2023

Surveillance is a critical component of disease prevention and management. Surveillance is required to confirm B.C.’s CWD status, to detect the disease as soon as possible and to provide information that will inform the response to a positive diagnosis in B.C.

 

Chronic Wasting Disease Annual Update 2022-23

 


More about Chronic Wasting Disease in B.C. 

Learn more about Chronic Wasting Disease 

Learn more about the signs and symptoms of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and why it is important to prevent its spread in B.C.'s cervid populations. 

Learn more about CWD


What is being done to prevent the spread of CWD in B.C.

Surveillance is a critical component in preventing the spread of CWD. Learn how you can report sick animals and submit harvested deer, elk and moose heads for testing.

Preventing CWD in B.C. 


Surveillance and Testing

Find out more about the proper conditions to  submit a head for CWD testing and drop-off locations in B.C.

Submit a head for testing


Fact Cards on Chronic Wasting Disease

The fact cards below are a series of images that can be printed or shared on websites or social media.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is cause by an abnormal protein called a prion. Prions accumulate in the brain of infected animals, impairing brain function.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been found in 26 American states and three Canadian provinces. CWD can seriously impact affected cervid (deer, elk, moose) populations.

Why is it unlawful to bring an intact cervid (deer, elk, moose) carcass to B.C.? It could introduce Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) to the province.

Public Health recommends that animals infected with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) should not be eaten. Be aware of the risk. Consider submitting hunted cervid (deer, elk, moose) heads for testing.

Hunters, you can submit a head for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing and still keep the antlers. Find out what samples to submit and where can you submit them at our website.

Early stages of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) are not always obvious. A deer, elk or moose may be infected for over a year before showing symptoms.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is found in species of the deer family, also known as cervids. There has never been a case of CWD in humans, sheep, or cattle.

An infected cervid (deer, elk, moose) carcass could introduce Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) to B.C. Cleaned antlers, hide and deboned meat have less risk of transporting CWD.

An infected animal can shed the proteins that cause Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) into the environment. Saliva, urine, feces, or the carcass from an infected animal could introduce CWD to B.C.

Surveillance for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is important to recognize the disease as early as possible. You can help by submitting the head of any cervid (deer, elk, moose) harvested in B.C.

Hunting in the Kootenays this fall? Be aware that there is mandatory submission of Mule and White-tailed Deer heads for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing in highest-risk areas.

Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Results

Click below to view the latest CWD testing results

BC CWD Test Results

Contact information

For wildlife-human interactions where public safety may be at risk call the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line: 

For wildlife health inquiries or reports: 

Wildlife Health Office
250 751-3219
Wildlife Health Email
Cait.Nelson@gov.bc.ca