Wildlife Disease in Big Game

Wild animals are generally very healthy, and a hunter will rarely see signs of any disease.

In a wild animal, as in a human, many parasites, bacteria, and viruses may be present.

Disease problems are lowest when animals are not overpopulated. This is usually the case with hunted game populations.

Most diseases of big game animals are not transmissible to humans. Diseases that can affect man are easily avoided by taking simple precautions when handling and/or cooking game meat.

If you find something unusual in a big game animal, it's best to have it checked out by a knowledgeable person. Wildlife Conservation Officers and Wildlife Biologists can help in this regard.