Alberta Government Proposes Elk and Deer “Harvest Preserves,” Ignored Major Risk of Spreading CWD

February 13, 2025

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• Caribou
• Game Farming
• Issues
• Species at Risk
• Wildlife

The Government of Alberta is considering legalizing harvest preserves – private “hunting” enclosures where farmed elk and deer would be released for paid “hunts.” This proposal would require changes to the existing Livestock Industry Diversification Act, basically allowing commercialized hunting in fenced areas across the province. However, the government is completely ignoring the risks associated with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and the potentially catastrophic consequences for Alberta’s wild deer, elk, and caribou populations.

CWD is a highly contagious and fatal disease affecting species of the deer family (cervids). It spreads through bodily fluids and can persist in the environment for years, contaminating soil, water, and plants. Once introduced to a new area, it is nearly impossible to remove.

The proposed plan involves moving farmed animals from regions where CWD is prevalent to areas currently free of the disease. This raises alarming concerns: if infected animals, or even contaminated feed and equipment, are introduced into these new regions, the disease could spread to our wild cervid populations in Northern Alberta. This could spell disaster for wildlife, including already at-risk species like caribou, and would have profound effects on Indigenous communities that rely on wild game for food and cultural practices.

Beyond health risks, there are also ethical concerns with harvest preserves. They resemble “canned hunting,” where animals have no real chance to escape, undermining the values of fair chase. The high concentration of farmed animals could also draw in predators like wolves, increasing the likelihood of human-wildlife conflicts and disrupting Alberta’s ecosystems.

Given these concerns, AWA strongly opposes the legalization of harvest preserves and has urged the government to abandon this proposal. Recently, we submitted a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, stressing the urgent need to reconsider this proposal and its ramifications, including the spread of CWD and the violation of Indigenous harvesting rights. We hope the government listens to our concerns and prioritizes the health of Alberta’s wildlife, ecosystems, and communities over short-term economic incentives.

If you’re concerned about the risk of CWD and the future of Alberta’s wild species, contact your MLA (Who is my MLA?) and send a letter using AWA’s form tool to express your opposition to the legalization of harvest preserves.