Saskatchewan's Ministry of Environment is asking hunters to help monitor the spread and intensity of Chronic Wasting Disease.

CWD is a fatal, infectious disease of the central nervous system that can affect deer, elk, caribou and moose populations.

Chronic Wasting Disease was first discovered in a wild mule deer in 2000, and today has been confirmed in 44 of Saskatchewan’s 83 wildlife management zones.

According to the Ministry of Environment, no human case of CWD has ever been identified. 

Hunters are being warned not to eat, or distribute for human consumption, the meat or other parts of animals that have not been tested or that are found to be CWD-positive.

Hunters are being asked to help reduce the spread of CWD by submitting heads of harvested animals for disease testing, free of charge.

Heads can be submitted for testing at a number of designated drop-off locations across the province.

For a list of drop-off sites and information on how to submit a sample for testing, hunters can visit the Saskatchewan CWD submission and tracking website at here.