Chronic wasting disease CWD in deer

Cheeseburger Eddie

Cheeseburger Eddie

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I was talking to a farmer today and asking permission to hunt on his land. He has no problems with my coming onto his land and offered to provide me with updated animal sightings. At this point I can't get out hunting until fall 2021.

Long story short, he was telling me about research being done in Calgary on deer samples/heads being sent in to test for Chronic wasting disease (CWD). Apparently, some of the animals are initially coming back as negative but with further investigations they are positive.

He also told me about a researcher feeding deer meat to monkey's to show the long term effects of Chronic wasting disease (CWD) positive meat on the brain.

Any thoughts, experiences and/or suggestions?

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CWD is a big problem in my area. Had a mule deer given to me for cat food this fall, not a speck of fat on it at the start of the rut. Some hunters in this area don't bother applying for mule deer tags anymore due to the disease. The cull we had in this area 15 years ago thinned out the mule deer but they are back and with more disease. I have heard reports of moose with it as well but that is hearsay. Haven't seen any long term problem with the cats but on a farm their life span is shorter than a house cat. :)
 
Provincial Fish and Wildlife sites, Canadian Food Inspection Agency have all the information that you should know about CWD.
It's a disease of the Deer family, so Elk and Moose can contract it too. Caribou are also susceptible.
Hunters should get their animals tested in those Provinces where the disease occurs.
 
Great info from the US since they have had it longer and in higher quantities. CDC for one.
Was a very good meateater podcast on it a couple years ago that is well worth listening to.
Yet to be a confirmed case of transmission to a human, and I hope there never is, but not sure I'd take that risk. Sure wouldn't feed it to anyone younger than me, since it a long term latency issue, I might not survive long enough to get holes in my brain, but kids very will could.
 
SERM has a map of CWD positive tests on their website.
The experts suggest that the few zones without CWD observations in Saskatchewan, may be more a reflection of low testing number, than absence of the disease.
 
saskbooknut said:
SERM has a map of CWD positive tests on their website.
The experts suggest that the few zones without CWD observations in Saskatchewan, may be more a reflection of low testing number, than absence of the disease.
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Let's continue to allow baiting so we have diseased animals congregating in same areas.

The CWD problem was/is exasperated by 2 things.

Government that allows baiting to support Outfitters who put very little $$$$$ into Provincial Coffers...

2nd mistake they made was allowing the importation of foreign animals, namely Elk, so a few farmers could profit from it and it in turn spread the disease right across the province.
 
To be fair, banning baiting would not stop concentration of deer.
Growing Alfalfa, piling grain on the ground, leaking grain bins, and other normal agricultural practices leads to deer concentration.
 
If you suspect this disease it lies within the central nervous system. So I would debone the meat with the deer hanging. Never severe the spine or neck. Keep its head attached for throughout the whole processing of removal of the meat.
About five years ago this was a big concern in north east Alberta. It was not uncommon to discover a complete deer carcass in the forest. The hunter deboned it in the field.
 
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Brutus said:
If you suspect this disease it lies within the central nervous system. So I would debone the meat with the deer hanging. Never severe the spine or neck. Keep its head attached for throughout the whole processing of removal of the meat.
About five years ago this was a big concern in north east Alberta. It was not uncommon to discover a complete deer carcass in the forest. The hunter deboned it in the field.
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that helps leaving the disease where it was by leaving the heavily contaminated parts there, but it is also contained in the meat. (The prions that is which are the issue and impossible to kill by cooking) Even knives and processing equipment need a heavy bleach soak to clean
 
I do not know much about cwd . My question is if you cook your meat well done, will it make it safe to eat? Also I don't know many people that eat brains but if you avoid the spine and brains is that ok?
I know the best and safest option is to send the deer to be tested. However not always able to or able to wait for the results.
 
soldier506 said:
I do not know much about cwd . My question is if you cook your meat well done, will it make it safe to eat? Also I don't know many people that eat brains but if you avoid the spine and brains is that ok?
I know the best and safest option is to send the deer to be tested. However not always able to or able to wait for the results.
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Cooking has no effect. Definitely avoid nervous system as food. Get it tested is the only option for "safety". It would be very nice to find out that there is some sort of "species barrier" that will prevent human infections, but the fact that, so far, there are no cases of human infection linked to CWD in deer, is no proof that you can't become infected by eating the prion. Test it and discard positive animals in an appropriate manner.
 
Please, please take the time to read the Canadian or Provincial Government information on CWD, posted on their website.
While there is no confirmed case of CWD prion transferred to humans, there was official denial of BSE risk to people, in the beginning.
The consequences of a brain wasting disease are horrible.
The precautionary principle requires us to avoid consuming infected deer meat.
 
I was attending a agriculture conference about 15 years ago. One of the guest speakers was a veterinarian from England. He had been on the front lines of tracing "mad cow" disease in that country. I assume most of you know that all these prion diseases are normal species specific, they take a few years to develop in the infected animal and are always fatal. In the case of the prion affecting cattle it jumped the species barrier and started killing people. If I recall almost everyone infected was between 20 and 30 years of age. They have no idea why it seemed age specific. However, the main point this researcher made, was that there were thousands of infected cattle that entered the food chain and were consumed as millions of infected meals. This occurred over a 10 year period. Yet only 177 people died. That is small consolation to those affected but is really a very low transmission rate and small risk.

CWD has not jumped the species barrier and may never. Debone your deer to avoid the brain and spinal column, as a extra precaution. It does remain a serious disease in deer (and all cervids), but not much of a risk to humans. I hate to see people quit hunting over this. Get your head tested if you are realy concerned, but you run a far greater risk getting killed in a car accident on the way to your hunting spot.
 
CWD appears to be a low frequency, high consequences risk.
You can only make an informed decision if you educate yourself.
 
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