Bovine Tuberculosis testing requirements initiated for Sask. hunters [Video]

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Environment has implemented mandatory testing for Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) in east central Saskatchewan for hunters.

The mandate comes after the province detected an infection in a 2023 captive cattle herd.

“Bovine Tuberculosis is a chronic bacterial disease that typically affects cattle. It’s a debilitating disease that tends to progress in animals and can often cause respiratory infection,” explained the ministry’s wildlife specialist Iga Stasiak.

“Although it’s primarily a disease of cattle, it can also affect other species of domestic livestock and wildlife including elk, deer, moose and wild boar, which is why we’re concerned about it.”

Hunters will be required to submit heads of elk and white-tailed deer for testing within one month from the time the animal was harvested.

The province is also encouraging people to submit moose and mule deer in the infected areas, which includes Wildlife Management Zones (WMZ) 37 and 48; located north …