Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, also known as blue tongue is killing deer in parts of Eastern Tennessee as well as parts of Kentucky. I have also heard reports but haven’t been able to confirm yet that it is showing up in Southern Indiana. Officials say EHD has been confirmed in North Carolina, Virginia and Alabama.
The disease is carried by gnats or commonly called “no-seeums”. Once the deer is bitten and the virus spreads, it increases the body temperature of the deer often forcing them to water where they want to cool off. Deer do not always die from the disease. It is spread only by the bite of the gnats and cannot be spread from one deer to the next. Many deer survive the disease. Hunters can often tell if a deer has survived EHD by examining their hooves. If they find hooves broken at the ends or growing irregularly, it’s a pretty good indication the deer once suffered from EHD.
Although EHD is not contracted by humans, one biologist with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says that any animal that looks sick he recommends not eating it.
Tom Remington
