TURN IN THAT HEAD!

Released on December 20, 2002

Saskatchewan Environment is alerting hunters to submit deer head samples as

soon as possible, as the fall 2002 Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) sample

collection program is winding down.



Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal disease affecting the brains of deer and

elk. Currently, the only way to test for the disease in the wild is to

examine the brains of animals.



To date hunters have submitted approximately 4,000 deer heads for testing.

While this is slightly above the number submitted last year, Environment

would like to get as many head samples as possible.



Hunters may drop their frozen head sample off at their local Environment

office. Hunters are requested to provide complete information including

their name and address, date and location the animal was taken, as well as

removing the antlers to make packaging and handling of samples more

efficient. Animal hides are not accepted at Saskatchewan Environment

offices, but may be dropped off at the local Saskatchewan Wildlife

Federation hide depot.



Another case of Chronic Wasting Disease has been found in the wild, this

time in a two-year-old white-tailed buck taken by a hunter near Paradise

Hill, north of Lloydminster. This is an area where the disease had not

previously been found.



Since the fall of 2000, seven cases of CWD have been discovered in wild

deer in Saskatchewan, four of those were animals taken this fall by

hunters. All seven cases have been found in the western part of the

province.



Current science indicates that Chronic Wasting Disease poses no known risk

to humans or domestic livestock.



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For more information, contact:



Kevin Omoth

Saskatchewan Environment

Regina

Phone: (306) 787- 8102