Deadly virus detected in Miami, Wabash, and other nearby counties
A deer’s broken hoof, indicating the presence of EHD. Photo/National Deer Association
If you are like me, you have been anticipating opening day of the Indiana deer seasons. I recently received an update about the earlier report that cases of EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease) had been reported in a few counties of Indiana.
Many of you might recall that just a few years ago, a huge number of deer were discovered to have the dreaded disease. I know in Cass County where I hunt, there were several hundred dead deer found in creeks, ponds, and ditches. It took several years for the deer herd to rebound and deer populations to increase.
Earlier in the year, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and deer management biologists said laboratory tests had identified an outbreak of the deadly EHD that started in a few northern Indiana counties. While it is believed that humans are not at risk of contracting the EHD, I personally would not risk eating a deer that had contracted the virus.
EHD is a viral disease that commonly affects whitetail deer, and it is transmitted by biting midges, gnats, and mosquitoes. This normally occurs in late summer and early fall and is normally more severe in years that are wetter, followed by hot, dry fall. EHD is often fatal to deer, but some deer can recover and develop immunity.
A big number of suspected EHD cases have been reported in Wabash, Warrick, Miami, Porter, Allen, Huntington, and Pike counties along with several other counties. Deer infected with EHD may behave unusually, such as walking in circles, excessive salivation, disorientation, and acting very lethargic.
EHD also causes fever in the deer, which makes them seek water to lay in and reduce the fever. As a result of that, many deer will be found lying in or near open water sources like ponds and rivers.
It is advised that anyone who finds a dead deer showing signs of EHD or finds a deer laying in the water is asked to report it at www.IN.gov/sickwildlife. The DNR monitors of EHD annually, however severe outbreaks don’t occur every year.
The severity of EHD in a single year depends on a variety of factors including climate, immunity, and other logical factors. The DNR monitors the yearly impact of EHD on the deer populations and makes changes to the allowable deer harvests to offset major effects.
Not every deer in an affected area will contact EHD. One sign a deer has recovered from EHD is sloughing or breaking on their hooves. The DNR asks that successful deer hunters use the Deer Afterhunt Survey to report the condition of their deer's hooves, including both normal hooves and hooves that show evidence of sloughing or damage.