Wildlife Disease killing deer in southeastern OH

[hunter1313]

The Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease reported in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennesse has hit here in southeastern Ohio. We found a total of 12 deer so far that have died from this disease. There are probably more and tonight we will again go out and try to locate these deer. I just wanted everyone to be aware about this serious situation.

[bowhunter1023]

Could we get some sort of qualification please. That being your first post at all, I would like to know a little more about you and the situation before I get too worried. I'm sure the same will go for the others...

[M.Magis]

EHD is not new, and deer die from it every year. For whatever reason, CWD receives much more attention, though less deer die from it than EHD. How do you know how the deer died? How large of an area are you searching? How many people are involved in the search? Are you qualified in any way to determine the cause of death? What makes this a "serious situation"? Have you ever searched for dead deer this time of year before, to verify that this is an unusual amount of dead deer?
In short, please give one single reason to not dismiss your first post as trolling for attention.

[hunter1313]

jesse this is ewetz, i visit this site quite often but just dont have time to take time in posting. To answer your questions we had a local biologist address the matter and he told that it was due to EHD. We have around 4-5 guys right now helping out with the search. This is a serious situation for us because this has never happened in our area. I am not trying to get smart with you magis but we have a strong hunting background/knowledge within our group of hunters and yes this is a very unusual amount of dead deer. sorry for being so brief on the first post but work only allows a short amount of time.

[CARPN-JAKE]

With how dry and hot its been in Southern Ohio EHD was bound to come up...I've been worried about it in the areas I hunt

[bowhunter1023]

jesse this is ewetz, i visit this site quite often but just dont have time to take time in posting. To answer your questions we had a local biologist address the matter and he told that it was due to EHD. We have around 4-5 guys right now helping out with the search. This is a serious situation for us because this has never happened in our area. I am not trying to get smart with you magis but we have a strong hunting background/knowledge within our group of hunters and yes this is a very unusual amount of dead deer. sorry for being so brief on the first post but work only allows a short amount of time.

Well hell. That's good enough for me. If you need another body, let me know. And he ain't joking, these boys can hunt deer with the best of them.

[PAKing]

PA is having the same deaths, mainly in 2 western counties that boarder the WV Panhandle and only about 30 miles away from Jefferson, Belmont and Monroe Counties in Ohio. See PA News Release Below:

TEST RESULTS CONFIRM EHD IN GREENE/WASHINGTON COUNTIES
HARRISBURG - Dr. Walter Cottrell, Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife veterinarian, today announced that test results have confirmed that epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is causing mortality in deer in parts of southwestern Pennsylvania. So far, more than 100 deer have been found dead in Greene and Washington counties, and the deaths are consistent with EHD. This marks the second time the disease has been confirmed in Pennsylvania.
Cottrell noted that tests were conducted at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia and Penn State University Animal Diagnostics Laboratory, and that those results confirmed that the most commonly found variant (Type II) of EHD was identified. Mortalities have been reported in Richhill, Gray, Morris, Aleppo, Jackson and Center townships in Greene County; and in West Finley, East Finley, South Franklin and Morris townships in Washington County.
"While we want to continue to receive reports about dead deer in these townships, we also are very most interested in hearing from those who find dead deer in other townships," Cottrell said. "As tissue samples must be extracted within 24 hours of death to be suitable for conducting tests, it is important that we hear from residents as soon as possible.
"Hunters need to know that EHD cannot be contracted by humans, furthermore it is extremely rare - and highly unlikely - for this variant to cause clinical signs in traditional livestock, such as cattle, sheep or goats."
Cottrell also advised that there is no evidence that humans can acquire the disease by touching or field-dressing a deer. However, as a routine precaution, all hunters are encouraged to wear rubber or latex gloves when handling or field-dressing an animal, and wash hands and tools thoroughly after field dressing. As with any wild game, always cook meat thoroughly.
EHD is a common disease in white-tailed deer populations of the United States, and is contracted by the bite of insects called "biting midges." In northern states, EHD usually kills the animal within five to 10 days, and is not spread from deer to deer by contact. While EHD is not infectious to humans, deer displaying severe symptoms of EHD may not be suitable for consumption.
Dr. Cottrell stressed that even though some EHD symptoms are similar to those of chronic wasting disease (CWD) - such as excessive drooling, weakness and a loss of fear of humans - there is no relationship between EHD and CWD.
"Because these diseases can look alike in some ways, all of the deer that are submitted are being tested for CWD," Dr. Cottrell said. "It also is worth noting that EHD is one of those diseases that can be amplified by anything that serves to congregate deer, such as supplemental feeding. Therefore, such activities should be discontinued immediately."
Cottrell also pointed out that the EHD outbreak should end with the onset of colder weather, which will kill the insects that spread the disease. He noted that EHD, unlike CWD, is a seasonal disease and the affected local deer herd will rebound quickly.
"The good news from this situation is that the public is reporting these sightings to the Game Commission," Cottrell said. "Should the state's deer herd be infected with more serious diseases, the Game Commission will need to rely on the continued vigilance of the public so that we can respond in a timely manner."
Matt Hough, Game Commission Southwest Region director, urged residents to continue to report unusual sightings by calling the region (724-238-9523). The Southwest Region serves Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
Residents in other counties are encouraged to call their respective regions.
In 2002, an EHD outbreak was confirmed in Greene and Washington counties. That same year, EHD was confirmed in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. In 1996, EHD was suspected to be the cause of death in nearly 25 deer in Adams County, but test results in that case were inconclusive.
Numerous other states also are finding EHD-related mortality this year. Reports have been confirmed in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia and West Virginia.

[M.Magis]

Much better, than you. No offence, but with all the more info you had in your very first post, the "trolling for attention" assumtion was very easy to come to.

[Lucky]

Doesn't EHD come from the deer drinking out of certain water holes. Just curious, I think I saw this on TV, but the guy said it was only in southern part of US.

[deerhunt45]

Doesn't EHD come from the deer drinking out of certain water holes. Just curious, I think I saw this on TV, but the guy said it was only in southern part of US.

It is a virus and is being transmitted a lot by "no-see-ums" from what I have read. And as stated in an earlier post, drought conditions contribute to serious outbreaks because more deer are drinking out of the same water hole.

[Lucky]

That's right 45 , that is what that guy said on TV. I think it was the Deer Dr.

[Full Rut]

This also killed some deer in Meigs county a few years back. It was during a very hot , dry spell.

[bowhunter1023]

This is about the same thing that went down in Meigs. Aparently they call it "Blue tongue" or something like that. It is caused by bites from deer flies. I talked to some of the family members at the fair this weekend. Last count was 40 deer from a 160" down to fawns. The one uncle was seeing 7 deer in his hay field from 115" to the 160". They are all dead at last count.

Disclaimer: Even though I talked to family and fiends, this is not from the horses mouth. Just what they had heard as well.

[bowhunter1023]

All you can smell when you drive down the road out there is dead deer. Not good :nono: I really hate to here this.

[Big H]

You may want to talk to the ODNR, or local warden to find out if you should back off on the doe harvest in that area. I read somewhere that in certain parts of Indiana (I think) they had considered cancelling gun season a year or so ago because of this disease. They did not because of the revenue that deer season brought in supposedly.

[Big H]

Over on Archery Talk, they are talking about EHD also, and it seems that Indiana, Kentucky, Pa., Tennesee, and Arkansas all have it going through some parts of their states.

[hunter1313]

Update. After several calls and one threat to call the local news station the DNR wildlife officer finally visited the area over the weekend. During his visit he took numerous pictures of the dead deer. He did not confirm that this is a case of EHD or blue tongue and he did not take any kind of samples while he was there. He told us that he would need a live deer showing symptoms of the disease to take the sample. We were told to contact him right away if we to find a live deer with the symptoms. So where we are right now is that this may be the cause, but it is not confirmed! I also agree with you Big H that they dont want the word to get out because of the revenue deer hunting brings into OH. We plan to hunt other farms where the outbreak has not occurred this year.

[Lucky]

Well, things seem to be getting dryer. I know my grass is dead, so the deer must be seeing a lot of drought out there. I hope this doesn't become a major issue. I don't think they would cancel gun season, it's all about the money baby!!

[Buckeyearcher]

I don't need the state to tell me to shoot or not shoot deer in our area. As the local landowners you have the power to manage the property according to how the landowners see fit. If a disease has wiped out the local herd you may want to cut back the harvest, you should not need the "government" to order you to do so. If sufficient numbers are still present continue to harvest at levels legal by law and warranted by your observations.

[Shed Head]

All you can smell when you drive down the road out there is dead deer. Not good :nono: I really hate to here this.
Is this over in Warren Township? There was a piece in the local paper about finding dead deer in Warren Township. Also talked to J.R. Hill last week, he woundered if I'v been finding any dead deer in Washington Co. while surveying. So far haven't found any.

[bowhunter1023]

Is this over in Warren Township? There was a piece in the local paper about finding dead deer in Warren Township. Also talked to J.R. Hill last week, he woundered if I'v been finding any dead deer in Washington Co. while surveying. So far haven't found any.

Yep. In the area of County Road 10 (Blue Knob Road :D ) and North of there. I walked all of our place and didn't see anything abnormal.