You can learn more about the current chronic wasting disease (CWD) situation at an open house education session set to go ahead later this month.
In Late January, the first two cases of CWD ever detected in B.C. were found in areas south of Cranbrook.
RDEK Area B Director Stan Doehle said it has been alarming to the hunting community and wildlife enthusiasts.
“As a hunter myself, I have major concerns. When you go out and harvest an animal, you won’t know if it’s infected or not,” said Doehle.
“Finding CWD here was a major turning point in this area.”
Since the two cases were discovered, the B.C. government has broadened sampling and changed regulations as officials monitor for the disease.
“Cases tend to be clustered geographically, so conducting surveillance around those positive cases will help us find any additional cases in the area if there is any,” said Wildlife Health Biologist Cait Nelson.
Nelson will speak at the upcoming open house, scheduled for August 28 at the Heritage Inn.
The presentation will focus on the new regulations regarding transporting carcasses, best practices for submitting samples and handling your harvest.
Attendees will have the chance to ask questions and learn about the current CWD situation in the region through a Q&A session after the presentation.
The public can attend the event by heading to Cranbrook’s Heritage Inn from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 28.
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