Surveillance and testing for Chronic Wasting Disease

On this page

• Why surveillance is important
• Mandatory testing requirement
• Drop-off locations for testing
• Instructions for submitting a CWD sample
• Instructions for submitting harvest locations
• How to find your CWD result
• Report a sick animal

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Why surveillance is important

Surveillance is a critical component of disease prevention and management. Since 2002, the B.C. CWD Program has conducted CWD surveillance in free-ranging cervid populations, including deer, elk, moose and caribou. The majority of samples are collected from hunter harvested animals, but it is also critical to test cervids collected from other sources such as those involved in vehicle collisions.

Surveillance is carried out across B.C., with enhanced efforts in the higher risk areas of the province, specifically areas with confirmed cases and regions adjacent to CWD-positive jurisdictions outside of B.C. (Alberta, Montana, Idaho and Washington).

Hunters are encouraged to voluntarily submit harvested deer, elk, and moose from all regions of B.C. for testing. The Kootenay and Peace Regions are target areas for testing because these areas are at higher risk based on proximity to positive cases outside of B.C

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Mandatory testing requirement

Condition of hunting license

It is a condition of the general hunting license that all license holders who harvest a deer, elk or moose, under the authority of a species license, in MUs 4-1 to 4-8 and 4-20 to 4-25, deposit samples (the head or portion of the head) in a designated drop-off location within the CWD Management Zone, and in accordance with the directions below:

• The head (or portion) must be deposited within one week of harvest
• The antlers must be removed
• Options for submitting:
  • The head (or portion) must be removed from the body and submitted with approximately 3 inches of neck attached (to ensure necessary tissues are present)
  • Deer only - The lower jaw may be submitted with the necessary tissues at the back of the throat present. Alternatively, the tonsils and retropharyngeal lymph nodes may be submitted
• Elk and Moose only – The obex and retropharyngeal lymph nodes may be submitted
• The head (or portion) must be fresh or frozen and in good condition; not rotten
• An ear card (provided) must be completed with location description (coordinates preferred) and contact information and attached to the sample (inside the bag)
• The head (or portion) must be placed in a plastic bag (provided) with the completed ear card and sealed before depositing in a freezer
• Sample from deer, elk and moose harvested within the CWD Management Zone must be submitted for CWD testing before leaving the area

There is no cost for submitting samples for CWD testing.

Quick test kits are available online, but they are not considered to be as reliable as the standard tests carried out at accredited laboratories.  

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Drop-off locations for testing

Drop-off locations are available during hunting season. These locations are subject to change. If a drop-off location is not available in your area, contact the B.C. Wildlife Health Program at 250-751-3219 to arrange drop-off.

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Instructions for submitting a CWD sample

• The head must be removed from the body, with at least three inches of neck still attached to preserve the tissues at the back of the throat that are required for testing
• Antlers must be removed. If the animal is harvested in a restricted antler season, remove both antlers with the skull plate as one piece and keep them with the carcass. Also important to retain evidence of sex and species with the carcass when the head is removed
• Hunters are also encouraged to collect and submit tissues (tonsils, lymph nodes and obex/brain stem) on the animals they harvest if they prefer to retain portions of the head
• For European style mounts for deer, the lower jaw with tissues of the back of the throat may be submitted
• For European style mounts for elk and moose, the obex (brain stem) must be submitted in addition to the low jaw or tissue at the back of the throat. Hunter can collect and submit the obex from the opening at the base of the skull
• The head can be fresh or frozen but must be in good condition, preferably not shot in the head and not rotten. The head can also be skinned out
• Animals must be over 1 year of age. Animals under 1 year will not be tested
• An ear card (provided at freezer) must be completed and attached with a zap-strap (provided) to either the ear, the skull (if skinned) or the sample
• Record or take a photo of the unique ID on your CWD ear card. This ID can be used to look up the results of your sample online later
• Samples and ear cards must be placed in a garbage bag (provided) and the bag closed with a knot or zap-strap before being deposited in a freezer

For printable sampling instructions with photos, see CWD Sampling Instructions for Hunters (PDF, 762KB).

For more information on removing a cervid head for submission, see Ways to Submit Samples (PDF, 768)

 

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Instructions for submitting harvest locations

In response to detections of CWD in the Kootenays, we are requesting specific harvest locations for hunter harvested animals that were submitted for CWD testing. This information will help us get a better picture of the distribution of negative and positive cases. Harvest locations will be kept confidential. 

Access the online tool for submitting harvest locations through GeoBC. Thank you for providing this information to support CWD management in B.C.

Submit harvest locations

Please email CWD@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions.

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How to find your CWD result

When you submit your sample and complete the ear card provided, record the CWD number in red print on the card (see the How to submit a sample poster (PDF, 571KB) for an example). This is your unique number for looking up your CWD results on the test results page.

All results will be posted to the results page. Positive results will not be posted until the hunter or submitter is notified.

If a positive result is found, the hunter will be contacted directly and immediately. An investigation will be carried out to determine the location of the meat and carcass parts. The hunter will be advised to not consume the meat (based on public health recommendations) and arrange for proper disposal.

There is no legal obligation to turn in the meat. It is the hunter’s choice to turn in the meat of a CWD positive animal. It is strongly recommended that that the meat is not eaten and is turned in so that it can be properly disposed of in a licensed incineration facility or designated landfill. Proper disposal is critical to avoid environmental contamination.

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How to report a sick animal

Early in a CWD disease outbreak it is unlikely to see animals exhibiting symptoms as most infected animals will appear healthy. That said, if you observe an animal exhibiting any of the following symptoms, please report this to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277 or the BC Wildlife Health Program at CWD@gov.bc.ca or 250-751-3219.