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Wildlife Diseases

Alberta has some of the best Watchable Wildlife opportunities in the country. The diversity of wild life-forms surpasses that in many other jurisdictions and runs the gamut from ants and antelope to walleye and whiskey-jacks. Many species are well known and well appreciated for a multitude of benefits. However, others are seldom seen and often unknown or misunderstood by those who see them or hear of them for the first time. Parasites and disease agents can invoke some obvious concerns about whether they are a risk to people, to livestock, or to other wildlife.

By far, the majority of individual fishes and wildlife in Alberta are healthy and it is a rare event to see sick or dying animals. That said, diseases and parasites also are a natural part of any ecosystem and the balance among all free-ranging native species. The following documents provide information about some of the noteworthy diseases and parasites in Alberta and the programs that have been implemented to understand and, if necessary, manage them.

• Avian Influenza
• Chronic Wasting Disease - Hunters can check AlbertaRelm website for results on deer heads they have submitted for CWD testing; visit https://www.albertarelm.com/wc.user.Login.page
• Freezer Locations 2009 – (1 page)
• Liver Fluke Survey Notification – October 29, 2009 (1 page)
• West Nile virus
• Wildlife and Human Health in Alberta – Fall 2009 (2 pages)