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SNR’s Shaun Freeman spoke with Daybreak Kamloops recently to talk about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and its effect on local wildlife populations. You can find that interview at 1:42:53 here on CBC’s website, and read more about CWD below!

Chronic Wasting Disease poses a serious threat to wildlife in British Columbia and more importantly in Skeetchestn. This fatal neurological disease impacts deer, elk, and moose, causing brain degeneration, extreme weight loss, and ultimately death. Left unchecked, CWD could devastate our wildlife populations and disrupt the ecosystems we all depend on.
CWD is caused by prions—infectious, misfolded proteins—that spread through direct animal contact or contaminated environments like hay being transported in from Alberta where it is present. Once established, it is nearly impossible to eliminate, making early detection essential.
You can play a critical role in protecting our wildlife! Hunters are strongly urged to submit the heads of harvested deer for testing. A head collection depot is conveniently located at the Skeetchestn Natural Resources office, 1040 Lemonade Flats Rd, Savona, BC V0K 2J0, just outside the office in the freezer labeled “BC Wildlife Health Program”.
By participating in this vital surveillance effort, you’re contributing to the early detection and management of CWD, helping prevent it from spreading further and safeguarding our wildlife for generations to come. Your actions today will make a difference—submit your samples and join the fight to protect our ungulates!