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Response and management for Chronic Wasting Disease

Last updated on September 10, 2024

CWD remains a challenging issue facing cervid populations and communities across North America. Thankfully we have learned a lot from the experiences of other jurisdictions that have been managing and researching CWD for several years. This knowledge of what has worked (and what has not), along with recommendations from the experts will guide CWD management efforts in B.C. That said, the situation in B.C. is unique and will require a plan that is informed by surveillance, research and input from partners.  

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Partnership with First Nations

First Nation partners are integral to the development of B.C.’s ongoing CWD response and management strategy. Indigenous objectives, values and concerns are presented and addressed through the established collaborative structure of the B.C. CWD Committee which includes representatives from Ktunaxa, Shuswap, St’at’imc, Treaty 8 Nations and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. The B.C. government is also working closely with First Nations directly impacted by new CWD detections in management planning and on-the-ground activities. Regular meetings, community-based workshops and information sessions are ongoing to increase awareness and build capacity in First Nations-led wildlife health monitoring programs.  

Collaboration with partners and interest groups

CWD in B.C. could have far-reaching impacts on hunting behavior, cultural practices, wildlife related economies and wildlife conservation. Therefore, an effective plan must be developed in collaboration with partners from a range of perspectives, values and knowledge. A provincial CWD Advisory Committee and regional CWD Working Groups were formed in the early 2000s to provide input and support towards outreach, surveillance and management planning.  

Initial response to a positive CWD detection

In accordance with the Surveillance and Response Plan for CWD in B.C. (PDF, 650 KB), the government of B.C., with support from partners, will implement an initial response in the event of a confirmed positive CWD detection. The goal of the initial response plan is to determine the scope of the disease on the landscape to inform management actions.

Response management is led by the B.C. Wildlife Veterinarian and supported by an incident management team, along with the established collaborative committees. Communication among these groups is critical.

When a new CWD positive case is confirmed, a 5-10 km zone will be delineated (with maps created) around the case. This zone is called the Initial Response Area (IRA). Local expertise will be required to define the zone and include other landscape and wildlife features. Targeted sampling may be required within the IRA to determine if there are additional CWD-positive animals. The information gathered during this phase will direct longer term actions.  

The objectives of the initial response are to:

  1. Determine if additional positive cases are detected through targeted sampling
  2. Determine species affected and associated risk factors
  3. Determine local disease distribution and prevalence
  4. Reduce disease transmission and spread
  5. Attempt eradication (if feasible)

Initial response activities and targeted sampling generate critical information that will be required to determine ongoing management of CWD in B.C. A CWD management plan for B.C. will be based on the current state of knowledge of management tools and an assessment of management actions applied elsewhere. The management plan for each incident will be informed by expert recommendations and will be developed and delivered collaboratively with partners.

Recommended management approach

Below is a summary of expert recommendations adapted from the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' recommendations for adaptive management of CWD in the West. 

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Commitment to long term management

A commitment of a minimum of 5 years of sustained management application is important to assess the effects of management on response metrics. Ideally, strategies will be evaluated for at least 10 years to account for the length of time for one generation.

 

Targeted harvest towards disease foci

CWD cases are clustered on the landscape. This clustering appears to reflect social interactions related to:

  • Higher contact rates in a family group
  • Transmission from doe to fawn
  • Post-rut bachelor groups 

Bachelor and mixed sex-age winter groups, particularly aggregates of does and their relatives, are thus a potential source of increased disease transmission.

Removing deer around locations of known CWD cases has been shown to remove CWD-positive animals at a higher proportion relative to hunter harvest. This is because one of the best predictors of whether a deer is CWD positive is its proximity to other CWD-positive deer.

The goal of targeted harvest towards disease foci is to first identify CWD cases through surveillance, then follow up post-hunting season to selectively remove animals from the areas (2-5km) surrounding positive cases.  

 

Targeted harvest management

In early disease outbreaks, certain segments of cervid populations are more likely to be positive for CWD. For example, males are often more likely to be positive relative to females in natural settings.

The goal of targeted harvest management is to use surveillance to identify animals most likely to be CWD-positive and target hunter harvest through regulations towards those segments of the population.

Similarly, assessing the role of harvest timing on disease transmission can inform shifting hunting season dates (i.e., post breeding season) to be more effective at removing CWD-positive animals.

 

Reduction of artificial points of host concentration

Artificial animal concentration, repeated visitation and shared resources (i.e. food, habitat) can produce points of increased disease transmission and environmental contamination. These concentrations result in disease hot spots and create sources of disease exposure to adjacent populations. The goal of reducing artificial points of concentration is to identify these risky situations and mitigate by:

  1. Removing point source attractants 
  2. Reducing cervid concentrations at these sites

 

Adaptive management framework

Adaptability and sustainability are crucial for ensuring long-term effectiveness of CWD management.

Our management framework will rely on standardized data collection and analysis of surveillance data and management actions, coupled with regular reviews of local knowledge and research. The combination of these tools will inform ongoing actions and necessary adaptations.

Effectiveness of management strategies will be assessed over time and strategies refined to support CWD and population management goals.

 

 

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
CWD@gov.bc.ca