Notice to Hunters
Wildlife Health and Disease
The vast majority of Manitoba's wildlife is very healthy. Natural
selection, through predation, ensures that only the healthiest of
wild animals survive. Sick, diseased, or injured wild animals are
quickly killed and eaten by a wide variety of predators such as
wolves preying on elk. This natural process ensures the overall
health of Manitoba's wildlife.
Diseases can significantly affect wildlife populations in situations
where natural habitat and environmental conditions have been
altered. An example is the loss of natural habitat for elk through
land clearing and agricultural activities. The situation becomes
worse when elk, searching for browse, encounter rich food sources
such as hay bales left in fields over the winter. Elk may crowd
together to feed on this forage thereby increasing the chance of
disease transmission.
Monitoring Disease Occurrences in Wildlife
Manitoba Conservation will continue to monitor the occurrence
of diseases in wildlife so that steps can be taken to reduce their
impact.
Bovine Tuberculosis in Elk and Deer
Since 1992, 35 elk and seven deer near Riding
Mountain National
Park have
tested positive
for bovine
tuberculosis (TB). Most of the
positive animals
identified to date
are near the
west end of the
Riding Mountain
National Park.
A total of 3,330 elk and 5,150 deer from the western part of the
province have been examined for this disease.
Bovine TB is not native to North American wildlife species, but
was introduced by infected cattle brought by European settlers.
The disease can likely be maintained and spread between
cattle and wildlife where animals concentrate unnaturally
at hay storage yards or feeding and bait sites. The Bovine TB
Management/Eradication Program, a co-operative undertaking
by Manitoba Conservation, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and
Rural Initiatives, Parks Canada Agency and the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency, is taking several steps to eradicate the disease
in the Riding Mountain area.
These include:
- Surveillance of the disease in cattle
and wildlife.
- Elk population management to reduce the chances of disease
transmission.
- Barrier fencing of hay yards, a ban on elk and deer feeding,
and strict enforcement of the regulation prohibiting the
use of
bait by elk and deer hunters to reduce contact between cattle
and wildlife.
- Ecological studies of elk and deer to learn about their
movements and risks of disease transmission.
- Identification of farming practices that may contribute to
contact between cattle and wildlife.
The bovine TB surveillance
program in elk and deer will continue in 2008. Hunters are
required to submit within 48 hours:
- The complete head, upper neck, lungs and trachea (windpipe)
of elk and deer shot during the hunting seasons in the Riding
Mountain area (GHAs 23 and 23A) and the Duck Mountain
area (GHAs 13A, 18, 18A, 18B and 18C).
- Samples must be delivered to Manitoba Conservation District
offices, biological sample stations and Warden Stations.
Also, hunters should immediately report any small, pea-sized
lumps in the rib cage or lungs of elk and deer.
Hunters are requested to avoid taking elk and deer that have been
fitted with radio-collars. These marked animals are important to
the success of the ecological studies of elk and deer.
Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic Wasting Disease
(CWD) is a fatal disease, which
causes
brain tissue to degenerate. Symptoms in deer and elk include
extreme weight loss, repetitive behaviour, drooping head and
ears,
and drooling.
CWD has not been detected in Manitoba. It has been found in
Saskatchewan and Alberta, and in many of the mid-western
United States. The disease seems to be spreading in many
jurisdictions, including Saskatchewan and Alberta, and remains
a
significant problem in wild deer in those provinces.
An ongoing risk assessment of the disease in adjacent jurisdictions>
is continuing. Manitoba Conservation, in co-operation with
Parks
Canada and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives,
will
continue monitoring for this disease by testing a portion of the
deer and
elk samples submitted under the Bovine TB Surveillance Program.
To date, more than 1,700 elk and 2,600 deer have been submitted
and all have tested negative.
Manitoba Conservation remains vigilant in ensuring that the
province’s wild elk and deer populations remain free
of CWD.
What is being done by Manitoba Conservation
- The importation of native and exotic cervids is prohibited.
- The possession of scents and other substances that contain
urine, faeces, saliva or scent glands of cervids, is prohibited.
- It is illegal to bring into Manitoba a cervid that has been killed
in another province or state without first removing the head,
hide, hooves, mammary glands, entrails, internal organs,
and
spinal column. These parts must remain in the place of origin. Antlers and connecting bone plate that have been detached
from the remainder of the skull and has had all hide and
other
tissue removed, may be brought in to the province, provided
the bone plate and antler bases are treated with a solution
of
not less than two percent (2%) chlorine. Raw capes and hides
that have been detached from the animals must be placed in
a sealed waterproof container to ensure that no fluids, tissue
or hair can escape. Once this process has been done, they
may
be brought in to the province provided that they are delivered,
within five (5) days of entry, to a taxidermist or a licensed
facility for chemical processing into a tanned product.
- These restrictions apply to everyone, including First Nations
people.
If you see a deer or elk with CWD symptoms you should note the precise
location and contact the nearest Manitoba Conservation
district office.
Manitoba Conservation Appreciates Hunter Co-operation
Manitoba hunters have made a significant contribution to our
knowledge of wildlife disease by submitting biological samples.
Your continued support has helped to ensure the health of
Manitoba's wildlife and ecosystems.
Trichinosis
“Trichinosis” "Trichinosis" is a serious human disease caused by a parasite found
in some wildlife species in Manitoba, including black bears. Wild
animals rarely show signs of infection with the parasite causing
the disease. In light of recent cases of this disease in humans in
other jurisdictions who consumed infected bear meat, hunters
are advised to ensure that all bear meat being prepared for
consumption is well cooked.
Avian Influenza Information for Hunters
Avian influenza (bird flu), is a general term for a number of "flu-like"
diseases caused by viruses that primarily infect domestic
poultry and certain wild birds including various species of
waterfowl. Avian influenza viruses of many types are commonly
found in healthy migratory birds and cause no ill effects to wild
bird populations, domestic poultry operations or human health.
However, some forms of Avian influenza (bird flu), such as the
Asian H5N1 type are more virulent and are of more concern from .
a human health standpoint.
Governments in Canada and the United States have been
monitoring domestic and wild birds to determine if the Asian H5N1
strain of bird flu is present in North America. To date, this Asian
strain of bird flu has not been found in either domestic or wild birds
in North America but, monitoring will continue as early detection is
important to stop the spread of influenza illnesses.
The risk to humans from avian bird flu is extremely low and
hunters should follow some simple, common sense precautions
when handling wild birds. Please see Handling and Preparing Wild
Meat below.
Generally people should not handle wild animals that are
obviously sick or found dead. If sick or dead waterfowl (ducks,
geese, swans), or shorebirds (plovers, sandpipers) are found, contact the Canadian
Wildlife Service at (204)984-6203 or contact Manitoba
Conservation at 1-800-214-6497 or 945-6784 in Winnipeg.
West Nile Virus and Game Bird Hunters in Manitoba
West Nile virus (WNV)
was detected in birds, horses and mosquitoes in 2002. WNV is
primarily spread by certain species of mosquitoes. Wooded and
marshy areas are favourite locations for adult mosquitoes. Hunters
can reduce mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeves, long pants,
and applying mosquito repellent containing DEET.
The risk of getting WNV from mosquito exposure is low, and
the risk from handling or consuming wild game is even lower.
Although, the prevalence of WNV infection in wild game is not
known.
For further information on West Nile Virus and reducing the
risk, please contact Health Links at 788-8200 in Winnipeg
or 1-888-315-9257 outside of Winnipeg. Information is also
available on the Manitoba
Health and Canadian
Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre web sites.
Handling and Preparing Wild Meat
Hunters can ensure that any wild game they harvest is safe to eat
by following a few simple precautions:
- Avoid contact with any wild animal that appears to be sick.
- During field dressing:
• Wear disposable rubber or latex gloves,
• Thoroughly wash hands and tools afterwards with soap and
warm water,
• Alcohol-based hand cleaner can be used if hands are not
visibly dirty.
• Dispose of bird remains after field dressing in a way that will
prevent scavengers from contacting them.
- Avoid handling and consuming brain, eye, lymphatic or spinal
cord tissue,
- When preparing and cooking wild game use common food
handling techniques;
• Cool meat immediately to a temperature of 4°C or lower,
• Thaw and marinate meats in the refrigerator,
• Never refreeze thawed meat,
•Use a meat thermometer to ensure wild game is properly
cooked - as a general rule cook wild game until the juices
run clear.
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Bovine
Tuberculosis in Elk
Anthrax in Wildlife
West Nile Virus
Avian Influenza
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