|
|
|
|
Background
|
Supporters
|
The Border Deer Study is a multi-year project with the goal of linking scientific knowledge with wildlife management, particularly in the realm of chronic wasting disease (CWD). This study will help identify the potential epidemiological risk of CWD entering and spreading into Alberta along portions of the Saskatchewan border. The immediate focus of this research is on deer herds in WMU 234 where the disease is present in local deer that move seasonally from summer ranges in Saskatchewan to winter concentrations in Alberta (Figure 1). Research in this area will complement a similar study underway in the Saskatchewan Landing area of Saskatchewan. The Border Deer Study began as a pilot project in January 2006 in the
vicinity of Chauvin, AB. Pilot study activities included refinement of deer
trapping methods, obtaining landowner permission for land access, collecting
tissue samples for genetic analyses, and putting radiocollars on several deer
that are being followed year-round. In November 2006, the Border Deer Study began its next phase. Deer captures expanded to include 3 new areas (Figure 1), in addition to the region surrounding Dillberry Lake Provincial Park from the pilot project. By 31 March 2007, a further 188 deer were captured and 137 were fitted with radiocollars. Of the 146 deer collared to-date, 127 are still being tracked as of summer 2007.
Figure 1. Map of the main Border Deer Study study area. Red shaded areas indicate areas of high CWD-risk based on locations of known positive cases. Yellow shaded areas are capture blocks used during winter 2006-2007. During the 2007-2008 winter, we will again be capturing and collaring
deer in the four current capture blocks, and potentially a new area in the
vicinity of a CWD hotspot. All data collected is used by the various researchers
making up the Border Deer Study under their respective interests.
Research
Areas
There are four main areas of research under which researchers are working in conjunction with the Border Deer Study. Augmented Surveillance and Monitoring This area of the project is undertaken by Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division and involves the testing of wild deer and elk for CWD. Tests are conducted primarily on heads from hunter-killed deer and elk submitted voluntarily by hunters, supplemented with the heads of road kills. The goal is to obtain estimates of CWD prevalence and to monitor prevalence spatially over time. Molecular epidemiology is the application of molecular genetics to the study of the causes, transmission and prevention of diseases across populations. There are two main goals in this area of the project.
This portion of the Border Deer Study involves the attachment of very-high-frequency (VHF) and global positioning system (GPS) radiocollars on deer and then relocating the deer at regular intervals. From these locations, we can: · Describe population units · Determine population densities · Examine for habitat selection patterns · Determine movement parameters to derive within and among population contact rates and CWD transmission risk. Models will incorporate data collected from the other three research areas and will be of two types.
|
Members and Contact Information
|
