According to the province, the white-tailed deer (pictured above) is the most abundant mammal in Ontario | Mik Horvath/MBC
Ontario Fish and Wildlife has announced 2025 is another year of an Ontario free of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in its cervid population.
Cervidae, or cervids, is the family of animal which includes deer, elk, moose and caribou; all of which are wildlife that can transmit CWD.
Ontario Fish and Wildlife have compiled their CWD test results from last year and have confirmed there are no cases of the disease in Ontario.
According to the Government of Ontario, CWD is a highly infectious disease where abnormal proteins, called prions, accumulate in the brain eventually leading to an imminent death.
The disease is found in five Canadian provinces and 35 U.S. states and there is no known vaccine or cure; it is completely untreatable and fatal.
However, CWD has never been transmitted to a human and there is no scientific evidence suggesting it can.
Since 2002 there have been over 16,000 CWD tests conducted on samples provided by scientists, hunters and local Indigenous populations.
Every single test has shown a negative result for CWD.
If someone does spot a deer species showing potential signs of CWD, they can email CWD@ontario.ca or call 1-888-574-6656.
Ontario Fish and Wildlife said symptoms of a possible CWD infected cervid includes:
- severe loss of body weight and body condition
- abnormal behaviour, including indifference to human activity
- tremors, stumbling, lack of coordination or paralysis
- excessive drinking and urination
- excessive salivation or drooling
- drooping head or ears
Although the ministry said these symptoms can be indicators of other, unrelated diseases or injuries.
(Written by Mik Horvath)
