Most people don't know what Chronic Wasting Disease is, what it does, or if it's dangerous. 

Chronic Wasting Disease is a disease that affects members of the deer family. In Saskatchewan that includes mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, moose and caribou. Caribou are unique in that hay have proven susceptible to the disease, but have not had a confirmed case in the wild.

What the disease is, is a neurological infection that leads to dementia-like symptoms, and is 100% fatal. Not much is really known about the disease outside of what animals are at risk for infection, and that it's from the same family of diseases as mad cow disease.

Iga Stasiak, a Wild Life Specialist with the Ministry of Environment in Saskatchewan, said the disease is a cause for worry.

"Animals deteriorate, they lose body condition and it's a disease for which we have no cure for and there's no vaccine," explained Stasiak. "That makes it especially challenging."

The disease impacts populations in two ways. The first is killing off older specimens, leading to fewer old bucks in the breeding population. The next is cutting into the doe population, preventing fawns from being born.

What helps to combat this disease is avoiding practices that attract wildlife to congregate in the area. Things like baiting and feeding will increase transmission rates. Avoiding long-distance transport with the carcass. It's best to leave the carcass and whatever parts not being used in place and only take back what's needed, and legally required parts. If a person does move a carcass, ensure that it ends up in an approved landfill for a designated carcass disposal bin.

Stasiak finished with this," I just wanted to thank the hunters for their continued effort in supporting our surveillance or monitoring program. Over the years, that information has been really invaluable to us in helping to devise future management options to try to control the spread of this disease in the province."