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Wildlife Diseases

Although most wild animals in the NWT are healthy, diseases and parasites can occur in any wildlife population. Some of these diseases can infect people or domestic animals. It is important to assess and monitor disease in wildlife populations so steps can be taken to reduce their impact on healthy animals.

The information available should help hunters:

recognize sickness in an animal before they shoot;
identify a disease or parasite in an animal they have killed;
know how to protect themselves from infection;
help wildlife agencies monitor wildlife disease and parasites.

For more information, contact your local Renewable Resource Officer, Regional Biologist, or the Wildlife Disease Specialist.

General Precautions:

Hunters should look for signs of sickness in animals before they shoot, such as:

poor condition (weak, sluggish, thin, or lame);
swellings or lumps, hair loss, blood, or discharges from the nose or mouth;
abnormal behaviour (loss of fear of people, aggressiveness).

If You Shoot a Sick Animal:

Do not cut into diseased parts.

Wash your hands, knives and clothes in hot soapy water after you finish and disinfect with a weak bleach solution.

If meat from an infected animal can be eaten, cook meat thoroughly until it is no longer pink and juice from the meat is clear.

Do not feed parts of infected animals to dogs.

It is important to report all wildlife diseases.

When Collecting Samples You Should:

Wear rubber gloves to protect yourself.
Place each sample in a separate plastic bag.
Unless otherwise noted, samples should be submitted frozen or kept cool.
Record the following information:
- Date and location collected;
- Type of animal;
- Sex and estimated age of the animal;
- Description of the sample;
- Any other conditions that may be important (e.g.. unusual weather, signs of a struggle).
The disease form provided can be used to record your information.

Under the NWT Wildlife Act, it is an offence to waste, destroy, abandon or allow to spoil: the meat of big game, other than bear, wolf or wolverine, and the raw pelt or hide of any fur-bearing animal, including bears. It is also an offence to feed the meat of big game other than bear, wolf and wolverine to domestic animals.

For more information, contact your local Renewable Resource Officer, Regional Biologist, or the Wildlife Disease Specialist.

Wildlife Diseases

General Precautions:

If You Shoot a Sick Animal:

When Collecting Samples You Should:

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