N.W.T. confirms anthrax outbreak in Slave River Lowlands bison

Advertisement

Advertise with us

FORT SMITH, N.W.T. - The Northwest Territories government is confirming an anthrax outbreak among the Slave River Lowlands bison population.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/07/2023 (1148 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FORT SMITH, N.W.T. – The Northwest Territories government is confirming an anthrax outbreak among the Slave River Lowlands bison population.

The Department of Environment and Climate Change reported the suspected outbreak last week after 15 bison carcasses were found between Fort Smith and Fort Resolution.

This week, it says the outbreak has been confirmed by laboratory testing and a total of 28 carcasses have been found.

Bison are shown at Metis Crossing Wildlife Park in Alberta. The Northwest Territories Department of Environment and Climate Change reported the suspected outbreak last week after 15 bison carcasses were found in an area between Fort Smith and Fort Resolution. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Olivia Bako-Metis Nation of Alberta **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Bison are shown at Metis Crossing Wildlife Park in Alberta. The Northwest Territories Department of Environment and Climate Change reported the suspected outbreak last week after 15 bison carcasses were found in an area between Fort Smith and Fort Resolution. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Olivia Bako-Metis Nation of Alberta **MANDATORY CREDIT**

It says all carcasses are being treated as anthrax cases

Parks Canada says two cases were confirmed along a 10-kilometre stretch of Highway 5 in Wood Buffalo National Park.

It says a total of nine carcasses have been observed.

Parks Canada says the public safety risk is very low. It is extremely rare for humans to contract anthrax but they can from direct contact with dead bison.

Parks Canada is putting a traffic control area in place where stopping is prohibited and public access areas are closed.

An incident management team is working to detect and dispose of the infected bison and treating soil to prevent the spread of anthrax spores.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2023.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

History of pedestrian injuries prompts Osborne Street safety review

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Preview

History of pedestrian injuries prompts Osborne Street safety review

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read 6:50 PM CDT

Traffic experts will put Osborne Street safety under the microscope to find ways to make the busy route safer for pedestrians.

The short-term study will take place “over the next year” with the aid of a consultant, to identify “low-cost improvements that can be installed quickly,” wrote David Patman, the city’s manager of transportation planning, in a new report.

Coun. Sherri Rollins, who represents the area and has long called for safety improvements on Osborne, said the study is long overdue.

“(This street is) … known for the absolute worst-case scenario, deaths and injuries from pedestrians … There have been calls for action for years,” said Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry).

Read
6:50 PM CDT

Chefs gather in St. Boniface to see whose version of jollof is best

Eva Wasney 4 minute read Preview

Chefs gather in St. Boniface to see whose version of jollof is best

Eva Wasney 4 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 1, 2026

Chef Alex Bockarie is bringing an age-old African culinary battle to Winnipeg.

On Saturday, five local chefs hailing from Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria will go head-to-head to determine who makes the best jollof — a rice dish simmered in a savoury tomato-based stew.

“Jollof rice originated from Senegal but it has spread throughout West Africa and every country has its own method of cooking it,” Bockarie says. “It’s a long-standing fight; even among the communities here in Winnipeg, everybody’s always saying that Sierra Leone’s (jollof) is the best, Ghana’s is the best, Nigeria’s is the best.

“It’s a friendly competition; friendly, but very serious too.”

Read
Tuesday, Sep. 1, 2026

Transit proposes electric bus purchaseWinnipeg Transit hopes to buy more battery electric buses, despite city council directing it to stick with diesel models from 2027 onward.

A report requests a “one-time exception” from council’s 2025 vote to buy solely diesel buses from that point on, over concerns the city couldn’t afford more zero-emission models.

The new proposal calls for Transit to buy up to seven 20-foot-long electric buses for a pilot project to support on-request trips, pending city council approval.

On-request serves up to 4,000 riders a week, at times, and could use 35 buses that are under 30 feet long, the report states.

N.W.T. confirms anthrax outbreak in bison

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

N.W.T. confirms anthrax outbreak in bison

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Monday, Jul. 17, 2023

FORT SMITH, N.W.T. - The Northwest Territories government is confirming an anthrax outbreak among the Slave River Lowlands bison population.

The Department of Environment and Climate Change reported the suspected outbreak last week after 15 bison carcasses were found between Fort Smith and Fort Resolution.

This week, it says the outbreak has been confirmed by laboratory testing and a total of 28 carcasses have been found.

It says all carcasses are being treated as anthrax cases

Read
Monday, Jul. 17, 2023

Dynacare strike set to begin before hearing into essential services agreement

Carol Sanders 5 minute read Preview

Dynacare strike set to begin before hearing into essential services agreement

Carol Sanders 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:08 PM CDT

Hundreds of Dynacare lab employees are expected to hit the picket line Tuesday, hours before a labour board hearing to determine whether they are essential workers.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 5:08 PM CDT

Man who killed truck passenger handed new 12-year sentence

Erik Pindera 4 minute read Preview

Man who killed truck passenger handed new 12-year sentence

Erik Pindera 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT

Manitoba’s highest court has given a man who shot at a passing truck and killed a 20-year-old woman a 12-year prison sentence for manslaughter.

William Ryerson Thomas Comber, now in his mid 20s, was found guilty of second-degree murder by a jury in December 2022 for the killing of Hailey Dugay on Nov. 17, 2018. Comber was later sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years.

Dugay died after the truck she was travelling in was struck by gunfire late at night on a gravel road near Fraserwood, 90 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

The Court of Appeal struck down Comber’s murder conviction earlier this year and ruled he was instead guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Read
Yesterday at 2:00 AM CDT