COMMON WILDLIFE DISEASES
and PARASITES in
the NWT & Nunavut
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Broken rib (note puncture in lung cause by
rib).
Puncture
in lung.
Photo credit: C.C. Gates,
GNWT, RWED, Ft. Smith Region
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Injuries are quite common in wild
animals.
Animals can often
survive even with bad injuries such as broken bones.
There are four major causes of injuries in wild
animals:
vehicle collisions
fighting with other animals of the same species
predation
gunshot wounds
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What
are the signs of injuries? |
Collisions:
Most
animals hit by vehicles are killed immediately, although some may
survive.
The
most common collisions in the NWT occur with bison on Highway #3 near
Fort Providence.
Gunshot
Wounds:
Most
animals that are wounded during hunting die from their wounds.
Animals with "old" gunshot wounds are not often seen.
Gunshot
wounds, particularly those from low calibre weapons, may be difficult
to see through the animal’s hair.
They are more visible on the flesh side of the hide.
Fighting
within a species:
Serious
injuries caused by fighting between animals of the same species
are uncommon. Occasionally,
dead animals are found with gore wounds (e.g.. bison) or bite wounds (e.g..
wolves) on the throat and neck.
Conflict
between species (predation):
Wounds
are usually found on the hind legs, neck and head and sometimes on the
flank.
There
is usually a lot of blood that collects under the skin and extends for
some distance in one direction from wound.
Teeth
marks may not go all the way through the hide but there is usually a
bruise or bleeding in the skin at the site.
The
animal may also have had a disease that allowed it to be more easily
killed by a predator.
Predators
may also be injured while hunting for food.
Wolves have been found with healed broken ribs and cracked
skulls that they probably got when attacking large animals, such as
caribou.
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Unless
some other condition is present, meat from affected animals is
suitable for human consumption.
Any
of these injuries might reduce meat quality.
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