Preventing the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in B.C.

Last updated on September 22, 2026

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in the Kootenay region. Stay up to date on current regulations and best practices and check your CWD test results here.

How to prevent the spread

Once CWD is introduced to an area it is unlikely that the disease will be eradicated completely. However, if caught early, attempts can be made to contain the disease to limit further spread. Understanding what causes CWD and limiting risky activities is key to preventing the spread of CWD to new areas.

Infected animals shed prions into the environment around them through bodily fluids and through carcasses. As such, vectors for disease spread can include live infected animals, infected carcasses and contaminated material, such as hay or equipment.

Natural animal movement can spread disease locally. People can spread disease farther distances by transporting infected carcasses and contaminated materials .

Visit the response and management page for more information on managing disease prevalence locally.

Human activities that increase CWD risk

There are human activities that increase the risk of CWD spread in B.C.

These activities include:

Transporting cervid carcasses from areas affected by CWD into and within B.C.
Using cervid-based products (scents and lures) that can contain CWD prions
Importing hay and feed materials from areas affected by CWD
Baiting, feeding and using other attractants (for example, salt blocks), which can concentrate animals and create disease hot spots

Hunting regulations and restrictions

Preventing the movement of CWD is critical to limiting its spread to new areas. Hunters, trappers, and others handling cervid carcasses play an important role in reducing the risk of disease transmission through responsible carcass handling, proper disposal of animal remains, and compliance with transport restrictions and testing requirements.

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Hunting regulation - mandatory CWD testing

Mandatory testing is an important component of preventing the spread of CWD and detecting the disease early. Submission of CWD samples from deer, elk, and moose harvested within the CWD Management Zone (PDF, 902KB), Management Units (MUs) 4-1 to 4-8 and 4-20 to 4-25, is mandatory, and samples must be submitted to a designated freezer before leaving this area.

Visit the surveillance and testing page for information on mandatory CWD testing requirements and sample drop off locations.

Hunting regulation - cervid carcass transport

The transport of brain tissue or spinal column (except for the tail) of any cervid, harvested within the CWD Management Zone (PDF, 902KB), MUs 4-1 to 4-8 and 4-20 to 4-25, is prohibited outside of the CWD Management Zone. Transport of brain tissue or spinal column is permitted within the CWD Management Zone to allow for submission of CWD samples.

For more information, consult page 15 of the Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 12.2MB).

Hunters should contact the Wildlife Health Program at 250-751-3219 or CWD@gov.bc.ca to discuss options for transporting cervids where travel outside of the CWD Management Zone is required for access to a CWD freezer.

Hunting regulation - Cranbrook January deer hunt

A deer hunt has been introduced in the area surrounding Cranbrook to reduce the risk of CWD spreading among B.C.’s deer, elk and moose populations and to increase sampling efforts to monitor disease prevalence. The Cranbrook area is at the centre of a cluster of CWD cases, which puts surrounding deer and elk populations at risk.

The hunt, occurring in January in a designated boundary zone, will allow the harvest of one deer (antlered and antlerless mule deer and white-tailed deer) in addition to the regional bag limit of two deer. It will be open to any licensed B.C. deer hunter. The hunt is intended to continue in future years but will be evaluated on an annual basis.

Visit the regulations webpage for more information.

Best practices for field dressing in CWD areas

To limit the spread of CWD within the CWD Management Zone it is advised that all non-edible parts of the animal are left at or near the kill site, or disposed of safely at a landfill. De-boning the animal at the kill site is the best practice to limit any waste material that is transported away from the harvest site.

For more information, see these instructional videos on how to field dress and de-bone animals in CWD areas:

Restrictions for roadkill

The transport, disposal and use (for trapping) of road killed cervids in the CWD Management Zone is regulated by the Chief Veterinary Officer under authority of the B.C. Animal Health Act. A General Order (PDF, 798KB) issued in September 2025 applies to the boundaries of the CWD Management Zone (PDF, 1.6MB), MUs 4-1 to 4-8, and 4-20 to 4-25.

Information for trappers

Any person that collects road killed (or found dead) cervids in the CWD Management Zone must follow the requirements as outlined in the General Order (PDF, 798KB) issued in September 2025. If a cervid is collected from outside the Mandatory Negative Area (PDF, 4.8MB) it may be used as bait for trapping, provided that:

Samples are submitted for CWD testing
The bait location’s latitude and longitude or UTM coordinates are recorded
Records are retained for six months
Records are made available upon request to a Conservation Officer, an officer under the Wildlife Act, or an inspector under the Animal Health Act

Cervids originating within the Mandatory Negative Area cannot be used as bait until testing confirms a negative CWD result. If any portion of a collected cervid tests positive for CWD, it must be gathered if necessary, stored in a secure, leak-proof container, and held until further instructions are received from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

Safe game meat handling

Hunters and butchers that are processing game are reminded to wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, eyewear and aprons to limit contact with blood and tissues while cutting hunted meats. They are recommended to follow good handwashing and hygiene practices.

All equipment and utensils used in the processing of uninspected meat and meat products should be cleaned, washed and sanitized immediately after processing, and prior to being used for processing other meat. For more information, please refer to the BC Centre for Disease Control guidelines (PDF, 1MB).

Contact information

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

1 877-952-7277

For wildlife health inquiries or reports:

Wildlife Health Office
250-751-3219

Wildlife Health Email
CWD@gov.bc.ca

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The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

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