RodneyNeff's Blog

Disease may be killing deer


Written by Robin Brandenburg    Monday, 01 October 2007 Landowners have been reporting dead deer found near ponds and creeks in the Crawford County area. The deer are dying from Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease or EHD, which is caused by a virus transmitted from deer to deer by a small biting fly (midge).

It is the most common deer disease in Missouri, although significant outbreaks occur only every 8 to 10 years. We had outbreaks in 1980, 1988 and 1998 that have been associated with droughts.

Transmission of the disease from deer to deer seems to be facilitated by dry conditions when biting flies are more abundant and deer concentrate around water sources. Once temperatures hit freezing for a period of time, the biting fly disappears and EHD mortality ends.

The disease is specific to deer. It does not infect humans, so there is no human health risk. Cattle can carry the virus but generally do not show symptoms, although during the 1998 outbreak, there is evidence that some cattle may have gotten mildly sick from the virus.

Most deer infected by the virus in the Midwest die as a result of internal bleeding. Generally, deer die within a few days of infection, so their body condition can be excellent at death. Often, deer with EHD go to water and may be found floating in a pond or stream.

Deer that have recovered from EHD infection often have cracked hooves, hooves that have sloughed off or a heavy hoof overgrowth.

Because of this year’s drought other states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois have also been reporting apparent EHD cases. Thus far most cases have been reported in eastern, central and south-central Missouri.

We want to monitor this outbreak. If you encounter such a deer, please contact the Sullivan Conservation office at 573-468-3335.  During non-business houses you can leave a message noting the date, how many deer you found and their location.

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Please credit Cuba Free Press, and the writer.

-Rodney