Saskatchewan Effective October 31, 2026 the Ministry of Environment will end the CWD testing program

 Saskatchewan Effective October 31, 2026 the Ministry of Environment will END THE CWD TESTING PROGRAM

Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Program Termination

Ÿ Effective October 31, 2026 the Ministry of Environment will end the CWD testing program.

This applies to the broader hunter testing program, not only mandatory testing.

Ÿ Government is always looking at efficiencies and since uptake across our hunters has been low, we see this as an opportunity for efficiency.

Ÿ Samples from mandatory testing zones that are submitted on or before October 31, 2026 will be processed. Samples from voluntary submission zones will not be tested; hunters will be informed on October 15. CWD sample drop-off kiosks will be closed November 2, 2026.

Ÿ Saskatchewan continues to recognize Chronic Wasting Disease as an important wildlife-health issue. The decision to end government-funded testing does not mean CWD has disappeared or that it is no longer important to wildlife management decisions.

Ÿ The ministry will complete the final surveillance report, and continue clinically suspect animal reporting, carcass- handling and consumption advice and emergency wildlife health responses.

Ÿ Current information will be available at Saskatchewan.ca/cwd and through the Ministry of Environment Inquiry

Centre. Questions and Answers

Why is government terminating the CWD surveillance Will hunters be able to pay out-of-pocket for CWD program?

Ÿ Government is always looking at efficiencies and since uptake across our hunters has been low, we see this as an opportunity for efficiency.

What is the timeline?

Ÿ Effective October 31, 2026 the Ministry of Environment will end the CWD testing program. This applies to the broader hunter testing program, not only mandatory testing.

Testing

Can I get my sample tested after October 31, 2026?

The Government of Saskatchewan will no longer offer this service after October 31, 2026.

Only samples from heads harvested in mandatory submission WMZs on or prior to October 31, 2026, will be processed and tested, pending adequate funding.

Will hunters be able to pay out-of-pocket for CWD testing?

• The government will not offer a fee-for-service testing option and the ministry is not currently aware of any commercial laboratories that offer private, direct-to-consumer testing for CWD in wildlife.

Food Satety

What can I do with the carcass if l am uncomfortable eating it without confirmation it is CWD negative?

Under The Wildlife Regulations, Section 22:

(1) A person who has killed or is in possession of any game other than a bear or wolf shall not allow its edible flesh to be wasted, destroyed, spoiled or abandoned.

(2) A person who kills or injures any game shall make every reasonable effort to retrieve the game and include it in his or her lawful limit.

Hunters who are uncomfortable consuming harvested meat without confirmation it is CWD negative may choose to:

Forfeit their hunting opportunity;

Gift the meat to another person who is comfortable consuming untested meat; or

Feed meat that is thoroughly cooked to pets.

Is it safe to eat the meat from my harvested animal?

There have been no documented cases of CWD in humans and the risk of transmission from consuming wild meat is considered low by public health agencies.

The risk of harvesting an infected animal ranges depending on the region of the province.

Hunters can assess their risks by visiting saskatchewan.ca/cwd to review known CWD prevalence rates across the province based on historical data.

Will any disease surveillance continue?

• Yes, the ministry will continue to monitor diseases, including CWD, through testing clinically suspect animals.

Licences

My licence says it is mandatory to turn in my (or my client's) sample, what do I do?

• On October 15, hunters that have purchased licences in mandatory zones will receive correspondence indicating they will no longer be required to submit heads for testing after October 31, 2026.

Can I get a refund on my licence? I am not comfortable eating untested meat and now that testing is no longer available, I do not wish to hunt.

Refunds will not be provided to hunters who no longer wish to hunt, nor will pool status be reinstated.

The Government of Saskatchewan also does not provide compensation for big game meat that is considered inedible. This includes replacement licences or financial refunds.

Hunters who are uncomfortable eating untested meat have options to utilize the meat (see above).

How will the discontinuation of the program affect wildlife management?

While the discontinuation of the CWD head testing program will reduce one source of information available to wildlife managers, the ministry will continue to monitor wildlife health and populations using a variety of other management tools and information sources.

Wildlife managers will continue to take a precautionary approach to wildlife management and may adjust hunting seasons and quotas to support healthy and sustainable wildlife populations.

https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/api/v1/products/130030/formats/157654/download

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan hunters take issue with plan to end chronic wasting disease testing

Staff will still monitor wildlife health and population using other methods: province

Jeremy Simes · for CBC News · Posted: Oct 15, 2026 9:10 PM CDT | Last Updated: 12 hours ago

A program that tests chronic wasting disease is being ended by Saskatchewan's government. (Gert Hilbink/Shutterstock)

Saskatchewan's government is ending a program that tests chronic wasting disease in deer and similar animals, a decision some hunters say they were blindsided by.

A bulletin on the province's website says the program is to be eliminated at the end of this month.

Don Gordon, president of the Saskatchewan Trappers Association, said Thursday the move could result in less hunting because hunters might not want to eat untested meat.

"It's a step backward for the people who have become accustomed to ensuring that, in their minds, what they're consuming as wild game is free of chronic wasting disease," he said from Nipawin, Sask.

"(Another) concern that I might hear from our organization would be how much of these animals or how many of these are going to be dumped because of the uncertainty." Chronic wasting disease affects the brains and nervous systems of cervids, such as deer, elk and moose.

Health Canada says there have been no reported cases of the disease in humans, but it recommends people don't eat meat from infected animals.

Saskatchewan's program requires hunters to submit animal heads for voluntary or mandatory testing, depending on where the animals were hunted.

New case of chronic wasting disease confirmed in B.C. deer

In its bulletin, the province says uptake from hunters has been low and that ending the program provides an opportunity to find efficiencies.

It says even though head testing will stop, environment ministry staff would continue to monitor wildlife health and population using other methods.

"Saskatchewan continues to recognize chronic wasting disease as an important wildlife-health issue," the bulletin says.

"The decision to end government-funded testing does not mean (the disease) has disappeared or that it is no longer important to wildlife management decisions."

Darrell Crabbe, executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, said the province informed him of its decision Wednesday night, catching him off guard. "This was kind of a bombshell for us."

Crabbe declined to provide the federation's opinion on the decision because the organization is still developing its position.

The province's bulletin said hunters who are uncomfortable consuming untested meat can stop hunting, gift meat to those who are fine eating it or feed it to their animals, as long as it's been thoroughly cooked.

It says the province won't provide refunds to those who have already bought licences and that edible flesh from cervids are not allowed to be wasted, destroyed, spoiled or abandoned.

Gordon said if the decision results in more hunters leaving animals to rot on the land, that could cause the disease to spread more easily.

"If these carcasses of these animals are all of a sudden starting to be moved from one area to the other, it is a known way of expanding the range of this disease," he said. "And I can see some people just saying, 'Well, I guess I'm not going hunting then.' And that is a loss all the way around. That's the fuel and the food and the family time that's not going to be spent."

The Canadian Press

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/chronic-wasting-disease-program-ending-9.7382960

2025-26 Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program Results

The Government of Saskatchewan received 2,900 submissions to the chronic wasting disease (CWD) hunter surveillance program during the 2025-26 hunting season, up from 2248 submissions in 2024-25. Increases were largely due to the implementation of mandatory CWD testing in WMZs 43, 47, 50 and 55. Mandatory testing for bovine tuberculosis (TB) was also conducted in WMZ 37 and 39.

Overall, white-tailed deer and elk submissions increased by 74 per cent and 88 per cent, respectively, while mule deer submissions decreased by 62 per cent and moose submissions decreased by 14 per cent since 2024-25.

A total of 362 positive cases were detected this season, including the following:

Ÿ 195 white-tailed deer

Ÿ 125 mule deer

Ÿ 33 elk

Ÿ 9 moose

All nine of the positive moose cases and 32 of the 33 positive elk cases were found in areas of the province where CWD is established in deer populations.

One elk tested positive in WMZ 64, where no cases had been found previously. As WMZ 64 borders WMZ 50, where CWD is commonly detected in elk and white- tailed deer, the lack of previous detections was likely due to small sample sizes rather than absence of the disease.

CWD was detected in three new wildlife management zones (WMZ) during this season. In addition to the above-mentioned elk in WMZ 64, one CWD-positive white-tailed deer was harvested in each of WMZ's 34 and 35. There are now 66 WMZ out of 83 testing positive for CWD in the province.

Hunter submissions are necessary to estimate accurate CWD prevalence (infection) rates in wildlife across the province. Understanding the spread and prevalence of the disease is critical for making informed management decisions. Hunters play an important role in informing wildlife management by submitting their animals for testing.

For more information about CWD, including how to submit your animal for testing, visit saskatchewan.ca/cwd.

https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/api/v1/products/128561/formats/154218/download

2024-25 Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program Results

The Government of Saskatchewan received 2,258 submissions to the chronic wasting disease (CWD) hunter surveillance program during the 2024-25 hunting season. The program detected 386 positive cases, including:

Ÿ 259 mule deer;

Ÿ 113 white-tailed deer;

Ÿ 12 elk; and

Ÿ two moose.

The disease was detected through the hunter surveillance program in one new wildlife management zone (WMZ): Prince Albert Wildlife Management Zone (PWMZ). One CWD-positive white-tailed deer was harvested in this zone. Previous lack of CWD detection in this zone was likely due to small sample size rather than the absence of CWD, as CWD is known to be present in adjacent zones. CWD is considered endemic across southern Saskatchewan, south of the boreal forest.

The South Saskatchewan River Valley has some of the highest CWD prevalence rates in North America. Mule deer in this area have prevalence rates ranging up to 92 per cent (+/- 11 per cent) in males and 62 per cent (+/- 19 per cent) in females. In the same area, white-tailed deer have prevalence rates up to 37 per cent (+/- 18 per cent) in males and 9 per cent (+/- 17 per cent) in females.

Recent survey data suggests that mule deer populations in the South Saskatchewan River Valley have declined, and CWD is likely a contributing factor.

All 14 of the CWD positive cases in moose and elk occurred in areas of the province where CWD is highly prevalent in deer populations. Cases of CWD in moose appear to be sporadic and associated with spillover from infected deer. Further testing is needed to understand the epidemiology of the disease in Saskatchewan moose and elk populations.

The CWD hunter surveillance program received 10 per cent fewer submissions in 2024-25 than previous years. In 2023-24, hunters submitted 2,294 samples (525 positive cases). Samples from mule deer and white- tailed deer decreased by 38 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively. Samples from elk increased by 277 per cent, due to the introduction of mandatory surveillance in WMZ 37 and 48, following the detection of bovine TB in cattle during the 2024-25 hunting season. The overall decrease in submissions to the program may be related to the lower number of cervid hunting licenses sold during the 2023 hunting season. Hunter submissions are necessary to estimate accurate CWD prevalence rates across the province.

Understanding the spread and prevalence of the disease in wildlife populations is critical for making informed management decisions. Hunters play an important role in informing wildlife management by submitting their animals for testing.

For more information about CWD, including how to submit your animal for testing, visit saskatchewan.ca/cwd.

https://pubsaskdev.blob.core.windows.net/pubsask-prod/149701/CWD%252BSurveillance%252BProgram%252BResults%252B-%252B2024-25.pdf

This is incredibly foolish and dangerous, i would have thought more from the Canadian Government…terry

“The province's bulletin said hunters who are uncomfortable consuming untested meat can stop hunting, gift meat to those who are fine eating it or feed it to their animals, as long as it's been thoroughly cooked.”

so, what is the latest science for cooking the CWD TSE Prion out of cervid meat?

***> you can’t cook the CWD TSE Prion out of meat, and in fact, cooking actually enhances the CWD TSE Prion in meat…terry

Volume 31, Number 2—February 2025

Dispatch

Detection of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Raw, Processed, and Cooked Elk Meat, Texas, USA

Snip…

Of note, our data show that exposure to high temperatures used to cook the meat increased the availability of prions for in vitro amplification. Considering the potential implications in food safety and public health, we believe that the findings described in this study warrant further research. Our results suggest that although the elk meat used in this study resisted different manipulations involved in subsequent consumption by humans, their zoonotic potential was limited. Nevertheless, even though no cases of CWD transmission to human have been reported, the potential for human infection is still unclear and continued monitoring for zoonotic potential is warranted.

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-0906_article

Detection of chronic wasting disease prions in processed meats

Results: Our results show positive prion detection in all the samples analyzed using deer and elk substrates. Surprisingly, cooked meats displayed increased seeding activities. This data suggests that CWD-prions are available to people even after meats are processed and cooked.

Conclusions: These results suggest CWD prions are accessible to humans through meats, even after processing and cooking. Considering the fact that these samples were collected from already processed specimens, the availability of CWD prions to humans is probably underestimated.

"Our results show positive prion detection in all the samples analyzed using deer and elk substrates. Surprisingly, cooked meats displayed increased seeding activities."

Meeting-book-final-version prion 2023 Prion 2023 Congress Organizing Committee and the NeuroPrion Association, we invite you to join us for the International Conference Prion2023 from 16-20 October 2023 in Faro, Portugal.

https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20250828201533/https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Syed-Zahid-Shah/publication/378314391_Meeting-book-final-version_prion_2023/links/65d44dad28b7720cecdca95f/Meeting-book-final-version-prion-2023.pdf

DETECTION OF CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE PRIONS IN PROCESSED MEATS.

In this study, we analyzed different processed meats derived from a pre-clinical, CWD-positive free-ranging elk. Products tested included filets, sausages, boneless steaks, burgers, ham steaks, seasoned chili meats, and spiced meats. CWD-prion presence in these products were assessed by PMCA using deer and elk substrates. Our results show positive prion detection in all products. To confirm the resilience of CWD-prions to traditional cooking methods, we grilled and boiled the meat products and evaluated them for any remnant PMCA seeding activity. Results confirmed the presence of CWD-prions in these meat products suggesting that infectious particles may still be available to people even after cooking. Our results strongly suggest ongoing human exposure to CWD-prions and raise significant concerns of zoonotic transmission through ingestion of CWD contaminated meat products.

Products tested included filets, sausages, boneless steaks, burgers, ham steaks, seasoned chili meats, and spiced meats.

CWD-prion presence in these products were assessed by PMCA using deer and elk substrates.

Our results show positive prion detection in all products.

Results confirmed the presence of CWD-prions in these meat products suggesting that infectious particles may still be available to people even after cooking.

Our results strongly suggest ongoing human exposure to CWD-prions and raise significant concerns of zoonotic transmission through ingestion of CWD contaminated meat products.

https://intcwdsympo.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf?force_download=true

Transmission of prion infectivity from CWD-infected macaque tissues to rodent models demonstrates the zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease.

Further passage to cervidized mice revealed transmission with a 100% attack rate.

Our findings demonstrate that macaques, considered the best model for the zoonotic potential of prions, were infected upon CWD challenge, including the oral one.

The disease manifested as atypical in macaques and initial transgenic mouse transmissions, but with infectivity present at all times, as unveiled in the bank vole model with an unusual tissue tropism.

Epidemiologic surveillance of prion disease among cervid hunters and people likely to have consumed venison contaminated with chronic wasting disease

=====

https://intcwdsympo.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf?force_download=true

Prions in Muscles of Cervids with Chronic Wasting Disease, Norway

Volume 31, Number 2—February 2025

Research

Prions in Muscles of Cervids with Chronic Wasting Disease, Norway

Snip…

In summary, the results of our study indicate that prions are widely distributed in peripheral and edible tissues of cervids in Norway, including muscles. This finding highlights the risk of human exposure to small amounts of prions through handling and consuming infected cervids.

Appendix

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-0903-app1.pdf

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-0903_article

CDC CWD TSE Prion Update 2025

KEY POINTS

Chronic wasting disease affects deer, elk and similar animals in the United States and a few other countries.

The disease hasn't been shown to infect people.

However, it might be a risk to people if they have contact with or eat meat from animals infected with CWD.

https://web.archive.org/web/20241120220110/https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-wasting/about/index.html

MONDAY, JULY 06, 2026

Cervid CWD TSE PrP Transmission to Humans, has it already happened and being masked as sporadic CJD, What if? July 2026 Review

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2026/07/cervid-cwd-tse-prp-transmission-to.html

***> hay, straw, plants, vegetables, TSE Prion uptake

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Hazard identification for the risks to terrestrial animal health from the import of hay and straw, BSE, CWD, Scrapie, TSE, Prion

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hazard-identification-for-the-risks-to-terrestrial-animal-health-from-the-import-of-hay-and-straw/hazard-identification-for-the-risks-to-terrestrial-animal-health-from-the-import-of-hay-and-straw

https://defrauktseprp.blogspot.com/2026/06/hazard-identification-for-risks-to.html 

USA Report, Scrapie, CWD, BSE, TSE, Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Cervid, Humans, Zoonotic, 2026

April 2026

https://fdabse589.blogspot.com/2026/04/usa-report-scrapie-cwd-bse-tse-cattle.html

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/403956772_USA_Report_Scrapie_CWD_BSE_TSE_Cattle_Sheep_Pigs_Cervid_Humans_Zoonotic_2026

SUNDAY, AUGUST 09, 2026

Chronic Wasting Disease CWD and Population Declines of Cervid

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2026/08/chronic-wasting-disease-cwd-and.html

https://prpsc.proboards.com/thread/229/cwd-prion-population-declines-cervid

***> 1. 01 Determined that white-tailed deer (WTD) infected with scrapie from sheep can transmit the disease to other deer under conditions mimicking natural exposure.

https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/project/?accnNo=440677&fy=202

https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=336834

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/8/24-0007_article

Scrapie TSE Prion, Singeltary review, October 2026

https://scrapie-usa.blogspot.com/2026/10/scrapie-tse-prion-singeltary-review.html

https://prpsc.proboards.com/thread/250/scrapie-prion-singeltary-review-2026

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2026

Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion Strains and Potential Zoonotic Ramifications

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2026/10/chronic-wasting-disease-cwd-tse-prion.html

https://prpsc.proboards.com/thread/255/prion-strains-potential-zoonotic-ramifications

cwd tse prion, cattle, pigs, sheep, primates, oh my!  Prion Conference 2023

Transmission of the chronic wasting disease agent from elk to cattle after oronasal exposure

Justin Greenlee, Jifeng Bian, Zoe Lambert, Alexis Frese, and Eric Cassmann Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, USDA-ARS, Ames, IA, USA

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the susceptibility of cattle to chronic wasting disease agent from elk.

Materials and Methods: Initial studies were conducted in bovinized mice using inoculum derived from elk with various genotypes at codon 132 (MM, LM, LL). Based upon attack rates, inoculum (10% w/v brain homogenate) from an LM132 elk was selected for transmission studies in cattle. At approximately 2 weeks of age, one wild type steer (EE211) and one steer with the E211K polymorphism (EK211) were fed 1 mL of brain homogenate in a quart of milk replacer while another 1 mL was instilled intranasally. The cattle were examined daily for clinical signs for the duration of the experiment. One steer is still under observation at 71 months post-inoculation (mpi).

Results: Inoculum derived from MM132 elk resulted in similar attack rates and incubation periods in mice expressing wild type or K211 bovine PRNP, 35% at 531 days post inoculation (dpi) and 27% at 448 dpi, respectively. Inoculum from LM132 elk had a slightly higher attack rates in mice: 45% (693 dpi) in wild type cattle PRNP and 33% (468) in K211 mice. Inoculum from LL132 elk resulted in the highest attack rate in wild type bovinized mice (53% at 625 dpi), but no K211 mice were affected at >700 days. At approximately 70 mpi, the EK211 genotype steer developed clinical signs suggestive of prion disease, depression, low head carriage, hypersalivation, and ataxia, and was necropsied. Enzyme immunoassay (IDEXX) was positive in brainstem (OD=4.00, but non-detect in retropharyngeal lymph nodes and palatine tonsil. Immunoreactivity was largely limited to the brainstem, midbrain, and cervical spinal cord with a pattern that was primarily glia-associated.

“Conclusions: Cattle with the E211K polymorphism are susceptible to the CWD agent after oronasal exposure of 0.2 g of infectious material.”

Strain characterization of chronic wasting disease in bovine-PrP transgenic mice

Conclusions: Altogether, these results exhibit the diversity of CWD strains present in the panel of CWD isolates and the ability of at least some CWD isolates to infect bovine species. Cattle being one of the most important farming species, this ability represents a potential threat to both animal and human health, and consequently deserves further study.

Prion 2023 Congress Organizing Committee and the NeuroPrion Association, we invite you to join us for the International Conference Prion2023 from 16-20 October 2023 in Faro, Portugal.

https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20250828201533/https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Syed-Zahid-Shah/publication/378314391_Meeting-book-final-version_prion_2023/links/65d44dad28b7720cecdca95f/Meeting-book-final-version-prion-2023.pdf

don’t forget the pigs, outbreak of cwd in pigs in Texas and Arkansas;

Chronic wasting disease prions in cervids and wild pigs in North America Preliminary Outbreak Assessment DEFRA 26 January 2026 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Preliminary Outbreak Assessment

Chronic wasting disease prions in cervids and wild pigs in North America

26 January 2026

Disease report

“They analysed over 300 brain and lymph node samples from 178 wild pigs living across Arkansas and Texas, USA…the researchers identified CWD prions in up to 37% of the lymph node samples and 15% of brain samples. The lowest detection rates were in the Texas samples (below 16%), matching the lower CWD prevalence in the state’s cervid population.”

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/697a3b013c71d838df6bd413/CWD_Prions_in_Cervids_and_Wild_Pigs_in_North_America.pdf

Detection of Prions in Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa) from Areas with Reported Chronic Wasting Disease Cases, United State Volume 31, Number 1—January 2025

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/1/24-0401_article

 ***> Additionally, we have determined that prion seeding activity is retained for at least fifteen years at a contaminated site following attempted remediation.

***> Infectious agent of sheep scrapie may persist in the environment for at least 16 years

***> Nine of these recurrences occurred 14–21 years after culling, apparently as the result of environmental contamination, but outside entry could not always be absolutely excluded.

Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion, Economical, Environmental, Zoonotic, Risk Factors 2026

https://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2026/02/chronic-wasting-disease-cwd-tse-prion.html

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025

Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion Environmental Factors Update

https://prpsc.proboards.com/thread/180/chronic-wasting-disease-environmental-factors

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/09/chronic-wasting-disease-cwd-tse-prion.html

CWD TSE PRION CERVID ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS 2023

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375182191_CWD_TSE_PRION_CERVID_ENVIRONMENTAL_RISK_FACTORS_2023

TSS