British Columbia’s southeast region is set to witness an expanded deer hunt aimed at curbing the spread of chronic wasting disease. The Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship has scheduled the hunt to run from January 5 to January 31 next year.
Hunters in Cranbrook will have the opportunity to harvest an extra deer, going beyond the usual limit of two. By reducing the deer population’s density in the area, officials hope to limit the chances of the fatal disease spreading further.
With six cases of chronic wasting disease already identified, the province is acting proactively to safeguard the local deer and elk populations in Cranbrook, which have been at the heart of a concerning disease cluster.
In response to the disease’s emergence in British Columbia last year, authorities conducted a targeted cull of urban deer herds near Cranbrook and Kimberley in February. While dozens of deer perished in Grand Forks, B.C., in September, officials believe these deaths are unrelated to the wasting disease.
The upcoming January hunt is open to all licensed hunters in the province and covers both antlered and antlerless mule and white-tailed deer. The ministry emphasizes the importance of maintaining low disease prevalence levels to prevent chronic wasting disease from gaining a foothold in B.C.’s wildlife populations.