The Challenge of CWD: Insidious and Dire

[Gifted Intuitive]

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/lifestyle/...edgdhp&pc=U531

[Gifted Intuitive]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-b...s-nb-1.5955035

[Big Grey Wolf]

News on weekend doctors concluded majority of New Brunswick cases were mainly normal dimentia etc. Most animals take few years to develope CWD or Mad Cow. The fact we eat steers around 2 years old probably saves us from most CJD.

[urban rednek]

Manitoba just announced CWD has been found in white-tailed deer.

https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.ht...ted=2023-03-06

March 6, 2023
PROVINCE ADVISES ADDITIONAL CASES OF CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE DETECTED IN MANITOBA

Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development is advising of the first detections of white-tailed deer infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Manitoba, along with additional detections of CWD in mule deer.

CWD is an incurable, fatal disease that affects members of the deer family (cervids) including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose and caribou. Animals infected with CWD may appear healthy until the later stages of the disease. If the disease spreads and becomes endemic to Manitoba, there is a serious risk that CWD will threaten the health of all cervid populations in the province.

First detected in Manitoba in 2021, a total of 20 positive cases of CWD have been detected to date. Eighteen detections of mule deer (17 male and one female) and two detections of male white-tailed deer. Cases were identified from mandatory biological sampling submissions of animals as well as animals harvested by department staff as a part of ongoing CWD management efforts.

The province thanks hunters for participating in efforts to manage CWD. Submissions have exceeded the capacity to test samples at accredited Canadian labs and are leading to higher-than-expected wait times. The province continues to receive and post test results, but estimates the wait time is currently 16 to 20 weeks from the time of submission.

CWD is not known as a human health risk, but meat from a CWD-infected animal is not recommended for consumption. Hunters who are active in areas where CWD is a concern should have harvested animals tested, practise safe carcass-handling protocols, and avoid consumption of any animal that has tested positive for CWD.

The province will provide an update on CWD management efforts once all samples are processed.

CTV News stories from Dec. 2022 and March 2023:
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/new-case...toba-1.6187779

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/chronic-...toba-1.6301279

[trapperdodge]

The government is very aware of CWD. They are afraid it will mutate and get in the bovine herd which would be a disaster.

Mandatory testing might tell you something about the spread but out here where it was first discovered whats the point? We know 30% of the deer herd is infected. Maybe somewhat less for WT.

[thumper]

I'm beginning to wonder about this whole CWD fear. I've hunted for big mule deer in the southern Alberta WMU zones bordering Saskatchewan for 40+ years now. Once I get more than a kilometre from the roads frequented by hunters, I've noticed no appreciable change in the numbers of big, healthy bucks, and large, healthy-looking does in that period. Sure, rough winters have caused some ups & downs, and the provincial helicopter cull made a temporary reduction in numbers, but generally, all I'm seeing are good, strong, healthy populations.

I'm not out that way in the spring too often, but I've seen some ragged deer then - as to be expected after long, tough winters, but other than that, I've never, ever seen an obviously diseased deer - skin & bones, head low, listless and walking in circles like the CWD notices show.

Maybe I'm just not as observant as some, maybe I'm just lucky, but my own personal observations don't reflect the deer armageddon that some warn us of. I'm not claiming a conspiracy's afoot, but after being repeatedly mis-led by exaggerated claims of danger by governments and media, I'm questioning the supposed seriousness of this disease.

Of the millions of people who have eaten deer in large areas of North America, where CWD has been endemic for a long period of time, I've yet to hear of one documented case of a human coming down with CWD. I know many of the animals I've taken have had the odd strange cysts, flukes, worms, louse or ticks, some infections from injuries - but those are just natural occurrences in all wild animals - no cause for alarm. I'm beginning to think of CWD in the same manner - just something deer naturally get, and live with - like ticks!

I'll continue to send in my heads - as required, and read all the provincial reports and updates, but I'll eat every deer I shoot, and not lose any sleep over it!

[South west trappin RG]

Originally Posted by thumper

I'm beginning to wonder about this whole CWD fear. I've hunted for big mule deer in the southern Alberta WMU zones bordering Saskatchewan for 40+ years now. Once I get more than a kilometre from the roads frequented by hunters, I've noticed no appreciable change in the numbers of big, healthy bucks, and large, healthy-looking does in that period. Sure, rough winters have caused some ups & downs, and the provincial helicopter cull made a temporary reduction in numbers, but generally, all I'm seeing are good, strong, healthy populations.

I'm not out that way in the spring too often, but I've seen some ragged deer then - as to be expected after long, tough winters, but other than that, I've never, ever seen an obviously diseased deer - skin & bones, head low, listless and walking in circles like the CWD notices show.

Maybe I'm just not as observant as some, maybe I'm just lucky, but my own personal observations don't reflect the deer armageddon that some warn us of. I'm not claiming a conspiracy's afoot, but after being repeatedly mis-led by exaggerated claims of danger by governments and media, I'm questioning the supposed seriousness of this disease.

Of the millions of people who have eaten deer in large areas of North America, where CWD has been endemic for a long period of time, I've yet to hear of one documented case of a human coming down with CWD. I know many of the animals I've taken have had the odd strange cysts, flukes, worms, louse or ticks, some infections from injuries - but those are just natural occurrences in all wild animals - no cause for alarm. I'm beginning to think of CWD in the same manner - just something deer naturally get, and live with - like ticks!

I'll continue to send in my heads - as required, and read all the provincial reports and updates, but I'll eat every deer I shoot, and not lose any sleep over it!

I have hunted a southern zone near sak border since I was a kid an the deer numbers have crashed especially the last three years, my guess down 70 percent. My relatives there say it’s not from hard winters. An yes this is observations while getting far away from where people can drive.

[FCLightning]

Originally Posted by thumper

I'm beginning to wonder about this whole CWD fear. I've hunted for big mule deer in the southern Alberta WMU zones bordering Saskatchewan for 40+ years now. Once I get more than a kilometre from the roads frequented by hunters, I've noticed no appreciable change in the numbers of big, healthy bucks, and large, healthy-looking does in that period. Sure, rough winters have caused some ups & downs, and the provincial helicopter cull made a temporary reduction in numbers, but generally, all I'm seeing are good, strong, healthy populations.

I'm not out that way in the spring too often, but I've seen some ragged deer then - as to be expected after long, tough winters, but other than that, I've never, ever seen an obviously diseased deer - skin & bones, head low, listless and walking in circles like the CWD notices show.

Maybe I'm just not as observant as some, maybe I'm just lucky, but my own personal observations don't reflect the deer armageddon that some warn us of. I'm not claiming a conspiracy's afoot, but after being repeatedly mis-led by exaggerated claims of danger by governments and media, I'm questioning the supposed seriousness of this disease.

Of the millions of people who have eaten deer in large areas of North America, where CWD has been endemic for a long period of time, I've yet to hear of one documented case of a human coming down with CWD. I know many of the animals I've taken have had the odd strange cysts, flukes, worms, louse or ticks, some infections from injuries - but those are just natural occurrences in all wild animals - no cause for alarm. I'm beginning to think of CWD in the same manner - just something deer naturally get, and live with - like ticks!

I'll continue to send in my heads - as required, and read all the provincial reports and updates, but I'll eat every deer I shoot, and not lose any sleep over it!

My observations have been quite different than yours. 3 years ago we shot the first positive deer in the vicinity of where we live. That spring I was out checking the fence on the home quarter and the dogs found 3 winter kills - in 35 years of living here I had never found a winter kill deer on the property. The next spring 2 carcasses. Populations are down by 50% in the area. We have had some positive results on deer heads every year since. We don't eat anything testing positive - sucks to take up freezer space for 3-4 months waiting to find out.

[urban rednek]

Some good information in these 2 short videos.

From Norway, time 2:56
This is Chronic Wasting Disease
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Fz2OUVi_A

From the National Deer Association, time 6:16
What Does a Deer With CWD Look Like? Chronic Wasting Disease in Wild Whitetails
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDNX5yOpG80