This past week in Oakland and Macomb Counties, several deer were found dead. The count is now up to around 50 deer found dead near and around the Clinton River. It was first thought that the outbreak might be EHD or epizootic hemorrhagic disease according to a press release from the Michigan DNR.
Subject: DNR Announces Tentative Diagnosis for Deer Die-Off in Oakland and Macomb Counties
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 4, 2008
Contacts: Tom Cooley 517-336-5030 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 4, 2008
Contacts: Tom Cooley 517-336-5030 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014
DNR Announces Tentative Diagnosis for Deer Die-Off Affecting Oakland
and Macomb Counties
The Department of Natural Resources today announced a tentative
diagnosis of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), an often fatal viral
disease found in wild ruminants, for the more than 50 deer that have
died off in an area around the Clinton River in Oakland and Macomb
counties.
The disease is characterized by extensive hemorrhages and is
transmitted by a biting fly or midge. White-tailed deer develop signs of
the illness about seven days after exposure. Deer initially lose their
appetite and fear of man, grow progressively weaker, salivate
excessively, develop a rapid pulse and respiration rate, become
unconscious, and then die. Due to a high fever, the deer often are found
sick or dead along or in bodies of water.
The virus can be transmitted to other wild ruminants, such as elk and
moose; however, there is no evidence that humans can contract the
virus.
There is no known effective treatment or control of EHD. The disease
was first documented in Michigan’s white-tailed deer in 1955.
Additional die-offs attributed to EHD occurred in 1974, and again in
2006 in Allegan County. The Allegan County die-off involved 50 to 75
animals.
Property owners who discover dead deer on their land should bury them
at a sufficient depth so that body parts are not showing. Carcasses also
can be disposed of at landfills that accept household solid waste.
For more information on EHD, please see the Michigan Emerging Diseases
Web site at
and Macomb Counties
The Department of Natural Resources today announced a tentative
diagnosis of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), an often fatal viral
disease found in wild ruminants, for the more than 50 deer that have
died off in an area around the Clinton River in Oakland and Macomb
counties.
The disease is characterized by extensive hemorrhages and is
transmitted by a biting fly or midge. White-tailed deer develop signs of
the illness about seven days after exposure. Deer initially lose their
appetite and fear of man, grow progressively weaker, salivate
excessively, develop a rapid pulse and respiration rate, become
unconscious, and then die. Due to a high fever, the deer often are found
sick or dead along or in bodies of water.
The virus can be transmitted to other wild ruminants, such as elk and
moose; however, there is no evidence that humans can contract the
virus.
There is no known effective treatment or control of EHD. The disease
was first documented in Michigan’s white-tailed deer in 1955.
Additional die-offs attributed to EHD occurred in 1974, and again in
2006 in Allegan County. The Allegan County die-off involved 50 to 75
animals.
Property owners who discover dead deer on their land should bury them
at a sufficient depth so that body parts are not showing. Carcasses also
can be disposed of at landfills that accept household solid waste.
For more information on EHD, please see the Michigan Emerging Diseases
Web site at
www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases.
The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use
and enjoyment of the state’s natural resources for current and future
generations.
With the recent worries of CWD in the whitetail deer in Michigan, DNR officials were quick to point out that this is not a case of CWD in the wild herd. According to an article in the Macomb Daily, they have also ruled out the possibility of tainted water in the Clinton River. They surmised that if this were the case, there would be other animals dying from the water also. Many of the deer carcasses were taken to Michigan State University for autopsies on the deer to help determine the cause of death.
This is just another saga that we must watch unfold concerning our deer herd here in Michigan. Lets hope this gets solved soon.
