Drought contributing to deaths of deer from virus
Associated Press
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.
Farmers and others spending time outdoors are finding lots of dead deer near ponds, lakes and creeks.
The animals are victims of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, a virus transmitted by the biting midge fly.
Chad Stewart, a deer research biologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, said the drought experienced by parts of the state has made the disease more noticeable this year.
"The consensus among biologists is that a lot of the moist areas now are dried up, concentrating these midges and deer around watering holes. There's an increase in their ability to interact," Stewart said.
Midges lurk around muddy, wet areas. A dry summer has resulted in concentrations of midges at wet sites. When deer gravitate to the same sites for water, the bloodsucking insect and wild animal meet up.
Deer often are found dead near sources of water, where they go to cool off after the high fever and dehydration associated with the disease set in.
The disease has been reported so far this year in 46 of Indiana's 92 counties, mostly in southern and eastern sections of the state. Lab analysis has confirmed cases in 12 counties: Clark, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry, Pike, Posey, Warrick and Wayne.
Stewart emphasized that the disease does not spread from animal to animal or from animals to humans. And people cannot contract it from midges, even when bitten.
He recently gave a presentation to state legislators, who have been hearing concerns from their constituents about the virus.
"Like everyone else, they wanted some accurate information," he said.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease first was identified in wild deer herds in 1955, Stewart said. Historical reports of deer dying from similar symptoms date back to 1890.
"It's not a new disease by any means," he said. "We have probably had EHD in this state every year."
But the virus has been more widespread and apparent this year because of the drought.
"We have been tracking reports and we have gotten more from deer that have died from EHD and its symptoms than ever before," Stewart noted. "It's a pretty bad outbreak."
Rex Watters, a DNR wildlife specialist at Lake Monroe's Paynetown office, recently found six dead deer on the property. Other people have reported five more dead deer around Paynetown. He attributed the deaths to EHD.
Watters said a hard frost likely will kill much of the midge population and stop the virus from spreading.
Some deer recover from the virus.
"Not every deer that is infected with EHD is going to die," he said. "There is a chance that even if they look sick, they may pull through."
Associated Press
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.
Farmers and others spending time outdoors are finding lots of dead deer near ponds, lakes and creeks.
The animals are victims of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, a virus transmitted by the biting midge fly.
Chad Stewart, a deer research biologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, said the drought experienced by parts of the state has made the disease more noticeable this year.
"The consensus among biologists is that a lot of the moist areas now are dried up, concentrating these midges and deer around watering holes. There's an increase in their ability to interact," Stewart said.
Midges lurk around muddy, wet areas. A dry summer has resulted in concentrations of midges at wet sites. When deer gravitate to the same sites for water, the bloodsucking insect and wild animal meet up.
Deer often are found dead near sources of water, where they go to cool off after the high fever and dehydration associated with the disease set in.
The disease has been reported so far this year in 46 of Indiana's 92 counties, mostly in southern and eastern sections of the state. Lab analysis has confirmed cases in 12 counties: Clark, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry, Pike, Posey, Warrick and Wayne.
Stewart emphasized that the disease does not spread from animal to animal or from animals to humans. And people cannot contract it from midges, even when bitten.
He recently gave a presentation to state legislators, who have been hearing concerns from their constituents about the virus.
"Like everyone else, they wanted some accurate information," he said.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease first was identified in wild deer herds in 1955, Stewart said. Historical reports of deer dying from similar symptoms date back to 1890.
"It's not a new disease by any means," he said. "We have probably had EHD in this state every year."
But the virus has been more widespread and apparent this year because of the drought.
"We have been tracking reports and we have gotten more from deer that have died from EHD and its symptoms than ever before," Stewart noted. "It's a pretty bad outbreak."
Rex Watters, a DNR wildlife specialist at Lake Monroe's Paynetown office, recently found six dead deer on the property. Other people have reported five more dead deer around Paynetown. He attributed the deaths to EHD.
Watters said a hard frost likely will kill much of the midge population and stop the virus from spreading.
Some deer recover from the virus.
"Not every deer that is infected with EHD is going to die," he said. "There is a chance that even if they look sick, they may pull through."
