Excerpt from BCWF 2024 Annual Repot (shared at the 2025 AGM)
The B.C. Wildlife Federation worked to minimize the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in B.C. Four cases of CWD were confirmed in 2024, three of which were near Cranbrook and the fourth just to the south. Since April of 2023, about 5,500 samples have been tested for CWD around the province, with the bulk of those samples (approximately 4,400) coming from the East Kootenays where sample submission of hunter-harvested deer, elk and moose is mandatory, White-tailed deer submissions were most common. CWD continued to spread in the U.S. states adjacent to the Kootenays and westward in Alberta.
The BCWF advocated for swift action as the best chance to curtail the spread of the disease. The provincial government expanded the number of wildlife management units where submissions are mandatory and conducted a targeted removal of deer near the first positive cases to acquire more data. For the 2024 hunting season, transporting cervid brain tissue or spinal column outside the CWD Management Zone (MUs 4-1 to 4-8 and 4-20 to 4-25) was prohibited. The BCWF urged year-round sampling to expand data collection outside hunting seasons.
The BCWF also urged targeted deer removal to reduce densities around known hot spots, and to remove town deer in Cranbrook and Kimberley to learn more about CWD prevalence and to lower disease spread and environmental contamination. Sampling efforts have shown a low prevalence of the disease, which requires a higher rate of sampling to provide confidence that CWD is not spreading or is not present in specific locations. A recent positive CWD case close to the border near Bonners Ferry, Idaho, presents a concern about the lack of samples from the Creston Valley.
The BCWF urged the government to use resident hunters in targeted removal efforts whenever possible. The BCWG expressed concerns about the extended time senior government decision-makers took to transition from the CWD response plan to implementing actions.
While there have been no positive CWD cases detected in the Peace region, the number of samples tested from that region (195 since April 2023) remains low, which is concerning considering its proximity to Alberta and multiple elk farms.
Genome BC is funding a two-year research project in partnership with Simon Fraser University using genetic material to gather information about deer populations in the affected region that will be used to improve monitoring and design a targeted response. This information can help managers better predict deer movements and the likely spread of the disease.
Respectfully submitted by Gerry Paille
