Description
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an invasive alien prion agent that recently arrived in eastern Alberta. The prion causes fatal infections in cervids and significantly alters the population structure and viability of local deer herds. There is no natural barrier to further spread, no treatment to eliminate infections, and no feasible live animal test to identify infected deer. CWD has significant environmental, social, and economic effects by altering major ecosystem structure and function, as well as decreasing recreational harvest and guiding/outfitting activity. Alberta was proactive in looking for occurrence of CWD and initially proactive in responding once it was found. Current programs focus on monitoring the ongoing geographic spread and numerical increase in eastern deer populations. Hunter harvest is the primary tool to find infected deer. Population reduction is the only known tool to manage CWD in wild deer.