EHD question

[flugge]

So after seeing that other deer on here posted about possibly dieing from EHD..How long does it take it to kill a deer? I ask because I just checked trail cams and still had pics of all my big bucks, a few random bucks, and some have disappeared(but that always happens this time of year) I guess, should I still be worried with EHD until first frost, or just not worry about it and nature will take its course, because in all reality, not much I can do anyways..just nice to see them still

 

[6x6]

Yeah you are right, not much we can do, but at least if you had been watching a big deer, know, so you can find it before someone else.

I think it kills them pretty fast after exposure, within 1-2 weeks? It will keep going untill a good freeze or some heavy rains.

 

[jclaws]

It always seems to me that all the deer that i have seen that died of ehd.were either in velvet or they just came out and had not really began rubbing yet. All the bumps on the bases were still pointed and sharp. But that is prolly just me hoping thats the case cause most are out of velvet here.

 

[bwese]

generally they are dead withing 48 hours

 

[Shovelbuck]

Here's a few facts.......

Wildlife Health
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)
October 1999
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)* is common to white-tailed deer, but rarely affects other species. It occurs in the driest part of the year when conditions are just right for biting gnats, the carriers of the disease.

• The disease is not contagious from one animal to another, and it is not transferable to humans. It comes from a virus carried by biting gnats that live in or near water and wet, muddy areas. It is transmitted to deer that congregate at such watering holes during warm, dry weather.
• The spread of the disease is usually cut short with colder, wetter weather that spreads deer out and away from gnat-infested areas, or the first hard frost, which will kill the disease-carrying gnats. Since the incubation period for the disease is five to 10 days, afflicted deer may be observed up to a couple of weeks after frost.
• Deer in the early stages of EHD may appear lethargic, disoriented, lame, or unresponsive to humans. As the disease progresses the deer may have bloody discharge from the nose, lesions or sores on the mouth, and swollen, blue tongues. They become emaciated because they stop eating. Sometimes they even stop drinking, although many die close to or in water.
• Other wildlife, like mule deer, elk, and bighorn sheep could be exposed to the disease but are usually not stricken like white-tailed deer. No evidence of an outbreak in these species has been found at this time nor in past outbreaks in recent years.
• Domestic livestock could also be exposed, although cattle and sheep are usually only carriers, not victims, of the "Bluetongue" virus, which is very similar to EHD.
• Since deer hunting season usually doesn't open until well after the first killing frost, deer hunters usually don't see live, infected animals. However, WDFW recommends hunters avoid shooting and consuming deer that show any EHD symptoms, even though the disease cannot be transmitted to humans.
• EHD typically strikes in late summer and early fall during an unusually warm, dry year when wildlife concentrates at whatever water is available. Major outbreaks among white-tailed deer have occurred mid-August to mid-October in 1999 in northeast Washington (Spokane, Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan counties), 1998 in southeast Washington along the Snake River, and 1992 in northeast Washington.

* ("Epizootic" means an animal epidemic. "Hemorrhagic" means to bleed or hemorrhage.)

As a side note.......Cattle are now getting it here in Ne. and a game official told a friend of mine that we may lose 60 percent of our deer herd.

 

[SCOFFIN]

I know it sucks having all these deer die, but a glass half full perspective it's like shed season again but they are a little easier to find when they are still attached to the deer..

 

[Sligh1]

I know it sucks having all these deer die, but a glass half full perspective it's like shed season again but they are a little easier to find when they are still attached to the deer..

Wow, that's the most optimistic-spin I've seen in a while :grin:. I really have to push pretty hard to see a positive but props for the only positive thinking a guy could possibly do. Bad situation. I suppose for ME, my optimisim will come in that.... Well, actually it's just more of a "HOPE".... Just most of the bucks and few rare big ones dodge it or overcome it. I do have a lot of very large & quite full ponds on my place. Few areas in creek getting dry though and pond banks BUT the ponds are still everywhere through-out ground & deep. I'd say on my main farm, there's 16 ponds that are various sizes that are between 6'-25' deep depending on the pond. Some of the nicer ponds are newly formed 2 acre ponds with lots of water. I have found 3 dead fawns by water (not sure if EHD???) and I am going to be doing buzzard watch very soon! How I found the 1st 3 fawns. Please get cold & please get cold in a hurry!!!

 

[bwese]

More info on EHD from Omaha World Herald from a couple weeks ago. Since then the EHD has been hammering the deer herd across the state. Reports really started to spike after Labor Day weekend according to a NGPC employee.

Disease could affect white-tailed deer population
By Mark Davis
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Omaha World-Herald


DEER SIGHTINGS
If you see dead or struggling deer in or near bodies of water, call the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at 402-471-0641.

Herd numbers of white-tailed deer could significantly be affected by epizootic hemorrhagic disease, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission officials warn.
“We have already lost thousands (of deer), and we will lose several thousand more,” said Kit Hams, big game program manager for Game and Parks.
The disease could also affect mule deer, pronghorn, big horn sheep and elk populations. It does not pose a threat to livestock or people, Hams said.
EHD, transmitted by the Cullcoides biting fly, or midge, is a virus that kills quickly and is more prevalent in drought conditions.
“It (the spread of the disease) started early and will last until the first hard freeze,” Hams said.
When infected, deer will move to water with an unquenchable thirst due to a high fever and die within 48 hours near or in the bodies of water. Those that survive the virus will develop an immunity to the disease, Hams said.
“This is not catastrophic,” Hams said. “There might be fewer deer for a couple of years, but we'll get through this just fine.”
Once dove and bow hunters start to move into the fields and wild areas, reports of die-offs are expected to increase. Most reports are coming from the Platte River Valley, Hams said.