What you can do to keep yourself and wildlife healthy

What is chronic wasting disease?

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal wasting disease that can affect cervids. Cervids include:

• deer;
• elk;
• moose; and
• caribou.

Chronic wasting disease in Canada

CWD has been detected in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Quebec, in both wild and farmed cervid populations.

To date there have been no cases of CWD diagnosed in the Yukon.

See a map of the distribution of CWD cases in North America

Monitoring for chronic wasting disease in the Yukon

The Government of Yukon’s CWD testing programs and regulations help protect Yukon’s wild cervids that are at risk of getting infected.

There is no live test for CWD. We can only test dead animals. The head is required. Currently, the Government of Yukon tests:

• mandatory and voluntary hunter submissions of cervid heads;
• cervid carcasses brought in by conservation officers;
• voluntary submissions of road-killed or otherwise found dead cervids; and
• slaughtered or otherwise dead farmed elk.

What hunters should know

When hunters transport animal carcasses and internal organs between regions, they can bring diseases to new areas. The Yukon, BC and Alaska have regulations limiting the import and transport of species susceptible to CWD.

A Wildlife Act regulation  prohibits importing species susceptible to CWD into the Yukon. This includes carcasses hunted outside the Yukon.

If you hunt outside of the Yukon, be aware that:

• you can't import whole cervid carcasses or parts of carcasses into the Yukon except:
  • a cleaned skull cap with antlers;
  • cleaned teeth removed from the head;
  • edible meat completely detached from the head and backbone;
  • finished taxidermy mounts; and
  • tanned hides.
• you must properly dispose all butchering scraps and bones in a landfill so animals don't scatter them; and
• you can transport cervid carcasses or parts through the Yukon if you keep these in protective containers.

The only exception to these rules are cervids:

• harvested in the Northwest Territories; or
• in the 2 northern hunting zones in BC.

The Government of Yukon prohibits the sale or possession of some scent lures used for hunting cervids. These scent lures contain urine and glands that can spread disease. Read the Yukon hunting regulations summary for further information.

For more information on what hunters should know about CWD visit the Government of Canada's CWD webpage. 

What you can do to help prevent the spread of CWD to the Yukon

• Don’t risk bringing CWD home with you when you hunt outside the Yukon.
• Submit the head of any cervids you hunt or find dead in the Yukon to any Department of Environment office for CWD testing. We can return any heads. Hunters must submit elk and deer heads as part of harvest reporting.
• Call the TIPP line (1-800-661-0525) if you find:
  • road-killed or otherwise found dead cervids anywhere in the Yukon; and
  • any cervid that appears in poor condition, thin or behaving strangely.
• Do not feed wildlife. It’s against the law and can cause animals to gather together and spread disease.

Chronic wasting disease and human health

Do not eat meat from animals known to be infected with CWD.

While CWD has not been identified as a risk to human health, it’s similar to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). BSE causes a wasting and nervous system disease in cattle, and can cause a similar disease in people who have eaten meat from affected cattle.

For more information

Health Canada – chronic wasting disease

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention – chronic wasting disease

Canadian Food Inspection Agency – chronic wasting disease of deer and elk

Indigenous Services Canada - chronic wasting disease and traditional foods

Winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) are present in the Yukon. Ticks are present on:

• elk;
• deer;
• moose; and
• caribou.

In the Yukon, we are monitoring the presence and severity of winter ticks on all these species.

Winter ticks can cause severe disease in some species, particularly in moose. Heavy tick loads can cause hair loss, skin irritation, and blood loss. This can lead to starvation and death.

Winter ticks don't pass directly from animal to animal. However, an increased number of ticks in the environment can lead to more affected animals.

Wildlife technicians examine hides from road-killed and harvested animals.

Winter ticks:

• do not carry diseases of concern to humans or wildlife;
• do not affect the meat of harvested animals; and
• are unlikely to attach themselves to humans or dogs.

For more information, read the winter ticks fact sheet.

Samples requested from hunters

We ask that hunters voluntarily submit whole or partial hide samples to a Department of Environment office from moose and caribou.

You can get hide sample kits for these species at Department of Environment offices. Hunters must submit elk and deer hides for winter tick examinations. 

The examination does not damage the hide. We can return it to the hunter.

Report ticks

If you notice ticks on wildlife, pets or people, you can submit photos of the tick to eTick for identification and submit the tick to the Department of Environment. 

Find information on how to submit photos and ticks. 

What is rabies?

Rabies is a serious, fatal brain infection that:

• is spread in the saliva through the bite of an infected animal;
• often causes an infected animal to act aggressively;
• is most often found in:
  • foxes;
  • wolves; and
  • coyotes; and
  • sometimes in bats;
  • all mammals are susceptible to rabies; and
  • in the North, is most often spread to dogs from infected Arctic foxes.
• Rabies is present in wildlife in Alaska, BC and the NWT. Rabies hasn't been detected in the Yukon since the 1970s. However, you must always consider the possibility of catching it if you're bitten by an animal.

Rabies risk in wild animals

If a wild animal bites someone, it's critical to find out what happened.

• Was it acting normally?
• If not, is rabies a risk?

It's not always possible to identify the wild animal responsible for the bite. If the animal is captured or killed at the time of the bite, notify the chief veterinary officer. We will test the animal for rabies.

Rabies risk in domestic animals

Rabies vaccinations protect pets against the rabies virus. If the owner provides a current, valid vaccination certificate, we can discount rabies as a possible risk.

If the vaccination is not current or the certificate is not available:

• the animal will need to be observed for 10 days to confirm that rabies was not the cause of the bite;
• this is not an official quarantine in most cases; and
• health officials will request that the owner observe the animal for signs of illness and let us know if illness occurs.

In all instances to date in the Yukon, the observed animals have remained healthy. Once the observation period is over, you should vaccinate the animal against rabies.

The Yukon's Chief Veterinary Officer issued an information alert on December 7, 2021 that humane societies, shelters and rescues do not receive dogs from Tuktoyaktuk.

How to protect yourself

Get medical attention for animal bites right away

If a wild or domestic animal bites you:

• get medical attention right away since bite wounds can result in infection; and
• answer any questions about the bite incident from your healthcare provider.

Rabies can be prevented if you get a series of vaccines called rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (RPEP) soon after the bite. The Yukon Chief Medical Officer of Health determines if RPEP should be given using information provided by:

• the patient; and
• the animal owner if there is one.

Report animal bites and unusual animal behaviour

Report animal bites to the Animal health Unit, even if you don't suspect rabies. Phone: 867-667-5600 or toll free in the Yukon: 1-800-661-0408, extension 5600.

Bylaw officers and police enforce laws related to dangerous domestic animals. This process is separate from:

• the medical assistance provided to the bitten person: and
• the rabies investigation by the health officer and chief veterinary officer.

Report sightings of unusual wild animal behaviour to the TIPP line. Phone: 1-800-661-0525.

For more information, read this animal bites and rabies fact sheet.

Avian influenza virus

Follow the Government of Canada's tips to help stop the spread of avian influenza in birds.

Find information on avian influenza for poultry producers in the Yukon.

Report any signs of a sick or dead bird to the Turn in Poachers and Polluters (TIPP) line at 1-800-661-0525.

Hunters have shot and eaten wild birds known to carry avian influenza for centuries without ill effects. Sick wild birds are often too weak to fly. They're more likely to die of natural causes than for hunters to shoot them.

Cooking will kill the vast majority of pathogens, including avian influenza. Reduce your exposure to avian influenza by doing the following:

• do not handle or consume:
  • sick birds; or
  • birds that have died from unknown causes;
• avoid direct contact (skin or mucous membranes of your eyes, nose and mouth) with:
  • blood;
  • feces; and
  • respiratory secretions of all wild birds;
• while cleaning game do not:
  • eat;
  • drink; or
  • smoke;
• while cleaning game wear:
  • dish gloves; or
  • latex gloves;
• once you have finished processing game, immediately wash with soap and warm water:
  • gloves;
  • hands; and
  • clothing;
• just like you would after handling raw chicken, wash tools and work surfaces with:
  • soap and warm water;
  • followed by a 10% solution of chlorine bleach; and
• cook game meat thoroughly, to an internal temperature of approximately 72°C (160°F).

Read more about avian influenza in wild birds.

Read more about avian influenza in Canada.

COVID-19 and wildlife

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 can infect wildlife.

SARS-CoV-2 surveillance program 

A national surveillance program for SARS-CoV-2 in Canadian wildlife is underway.

Results will help researchers better understand:

• which species can be infected; 
• how wildlife are affected; and 
• how the virus is transmitted among wildlife.  

What are we doing for SARS-CoV-2 in the Yukon? 

More information

See more about SARS-CoV-2 and wildlife:

• COVID-19 questions and answers (Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative)
• Animals and COVID-19 (Government of Canada)
• SARS-CoV-2 in Animals Dashboard (Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System)

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

Hantavirus infection is a rare but serious life-threatening illness. The virus is transmitted to humans through:

• airborne particles; or
• water contaminated with feces, urine, saliva or blood.

Deer mice are the primary carrier of hantavirus, but other rodents may sometimes carry the virus.

The disease does not cause illness in pets and it cannot be passed from person to person, or from pets to people.

Read more about hantavirus.

Sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes spp.)

Animals affected by sarcoptic mange may display the following symptoms:

• varying degrees of hair loss, usually on the legs and tail;
• weak and in poor body condition; and
• loss of their fear of people.

Contact can transfer the parasite that causes mange. Pets are more susceptible than people.

Mange is present in Yukon foxes and coyotes. These animals may recover, but sometimes the hair loss is so severe that they are not likely to survive the winter.

We want to hear about reports of suspected mange in Yukon wildlife. It is important to discourage foxes from frequenting back yards. They can spread these parasites to pets and people if foxes:

• get under porches; or
• into dog houses.

Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)

Tularemia (rabbit fever) is a rare but potentially serious disease. Tularemia is spread by:

• drinking surface water contaminated by the waste or secretions of infected animals like hares, beavers and muskrats;
• bites from flies that feed on infected wildlife.

Tularemia is usually transmitted by contact with infected animals or their immediate environment, including:

• handling, being bitten by or licked by animals;
• skinning or handling dead animals;
• breathing in air or dust contaminated with the bacteria; or
• eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

While cases of this disease are rare in the Yukon, it can be serious. Cleanliness is important, as is protection from exposure to the animal's blood and other body fluids.

• Avoid skinning or handling any animal that appears ill.
• Wear gloves while skinning and gutting the animal.
• Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and hot water after handling animals.
• If animal fluids splash in your eyes or mouth, flush thoroughly with clean water.
• Make sure you cook the meat thoroughly.

Consult your health care provider if you have symptoms after handling wildlife such as:

• fever;
• swollen glands; or
• skin rash.

Let them know what animal you were exposed to.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV2) causes a sudden, highly contagious and fatal viral infection in rabbits. It spreads rapidly between rabbits causing severe illness with:

• listlessness;
• rapid breathing;
• depression;
• incoordination; or
• sudden death. 

RHDV2 has been diagnosed in North America in domestic rabbits and has been reported in wild rabbit populations. It was first found in Western Canada in British Colombia in 2018, and was confirmed in southern Alberta in April 2021.

RHDV2 can spread to wild rabbit and hare populations. The virus could have a devastating impact on Yukon wildlife if it were to be introduced into the wild.

This disease poses no risk to human health or to other domestic animals including other pets or livestock.

Read our rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus fact sheet for more information on how RHDV2 spreads, protecting your rabbits, and what to do if your rabbits are sick.

The Government of Yukon tracks wildlife diseases in the Yukon when they appear or are transmitted.

We monitor and safeguard the health of wildlife populations. We:

• conduct monitoring programs for diseases like rabies and chronic wasting disease;
• test biological samples submitted by hunters;
• examine found dead wild animals to determine the cause of death and if the animal had an infectious disease;
• collect samples from captured wildlife to monitor health of species such as caribou, sheep and bison;
• examine hides from elk, deer, moose and caribou for winter ticks to determine ticks':
  • prevalence; and
  • location.
• Put regulations in place to prevent:
  • the introduction; and
  • the spread of disease to wildlife.

Wood bison health monitoring

The Government of Yukon wants to learn more about the health of the Aishihik wood bison herd.

Submit any abnormal-looking tissues from your harvested bison. When you submit the head from a bison, we can collect samples and use them to evaluate various aspects of bison health. Heads will not be damaged and can be returned to the hunter.

• The incisor bar is a compulsory sample.
• Requested samples:
  • whole heads;
  • fecal matter; and
  • any body parts or tissue that appears abnormal.

Place any abnormal tissues or body parts in a clean plastic bag. Put feces in a separate bag. Keep chilled and deliver to any Department of Environment office.

Yukon bear research

We ask hunters to help gather information on grizzly and black bears.

If you use a GPS unit when you hunt:

1. record the location of your kill site; and
2. bring that information and the hide to a Department of Environment office.

A wildlife technician will map the location on a database and ask to take a small sample of hide (2 square centimetres).

Location information ties the biological information of the bear to an exact location and habitat. We can use hide and hair sample:

• for DNA;
• to get information about diet; and
• to detect the stress levels of the bear.

The Government of Yukon uses information collected through this process to help shift hunting:

• away from areas with declining populations; and
• toward areas with healthy populations.

Monitoring bird health

We examine dead birds to learn about why they died, and collect samples to evaluate various aspects of bird health. In most cases, we can return birds to you after examination.

Put each sample in a clean plastic bag and freeze it as soon as possible. Deliver the sample to any Department of Environment office.

Monitoring fish health

We want to learn more about the health of Yukon fish. We examine:

• dead fish to learn about why they died; or
• harvested fish that have abnormalities.

We collect samples to evaluate various aspects of health.

If you find dead or harvested fish with abnormalities, bring them to a Department of Environment office.

Put each sample in a clean plastic bag and freeze as soon as possible.

For information about fish health, read the Yukon fish health handbook.