Hunters in certain parts of the province must submit the heads of deer they kill, the province has announced.
Until Nov. 30, anyone who takes a white-tailed or mule deer from the Kootenay region along the US border must submit its head for sampling.
The wildlife management units affected are: 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7.
The mandatory hand-ins were prompted after Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks discovered nine deer with chronic wasting disease (CWD) 60 kilometres south of the Canadian border.
The white-tailed deer were found in Libby, MT.
It is the first time the disease has been found west of the Rockies.
CWD is a progressive, fatal nervous system disease that affects members of the deer family – including moose and elk.
It is not known to affect humans, but people are recommended to avoid eating meat from infected animals.
Anyone encountering an animal exhibiting the symptoms of chronic wasting disease (thin, drooling, poor co-ordination, stumbling) should report it to the provincial Wildlife Health Program at 250 751-3219 or the Report all Poachers and Polluters hotline at 1 877 952-7277.
To learn more, click here.
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