The Ministry of Environment is reminding hunters to drop off animal heads for testing.

Hunting season is winding down but testing for chronic wasting disease is free of charge and it is available for deer, elk, moose and caribou from any zone in the province.

The province is prioritizing heads collected along the boreal fringe and the eastern border. This includes wildlife management zones 2W, 9, 10, 35, 37, 50 and 55, which are specifically targeted due to a risk of the disease spreading in these areas.

CWD is a fatal and infectious central nervous system disease in cervid species that has no known cure. Last year, 644 submitted heads tested positive – two moose, 16 elk, 167 white-tailed deer and 459 mule deer.

The Government of Saskatchewan is providing funding towards research and development of a vaccine for chronic wasting disease (CWD) over the next five years in partnership with the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Conservation Association.