Frost kills off flies that had spread virus among local deer herd

Whitetail deer can be affected by an insect-borne virus that can kill large numbers of a herd in early fall; now that the frost has come, deer are likely safe from infection.

by Marsha Chartrand

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is an acute, infectious, and often fatal viral disease of some wild ruminants, in particular deer. This malady is characterized by extensive hemorrhages and has been responsible for significant deaths in deer herds in Michigan over the past few years.

Recently, Ken Beasley, who lives near the Bridgewater/Freedom Township line, noticed a large number of dead deer in his woodlands, and between himself and a few neighbors counted up to 21 deer who appeared to have died from causes other than being shot or hit by a vehicle and wandering into the woods.

Concerned as a hunter for how this might affect the fall hunting season in his neighborhood, Beasley contacted the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), who told him about EHD and how it can become epidemic in certain areas and can kill off large numbers of the deer herd when it is active in an area. The disease is transmitted in nature via a Culicoides biting fly, or midge. A deer must be bitten by a midge carrying the virus to become infected, and is not transmitted directly from one deer to another. Not all deer who are bitten will contract EHD; not all deer who contract EHD will die from the disease.

DNR representatives came to Beasley’s property and took a couple of carcasses and a deer head to Lansing for testing, which can take a few weeks. Recently, Beasley was notified that the samples taken by the DNR were, indeed, examples of deer who had died due to EHD. However, now that there have been a few significant frost events, it is assumed that the midges have been killed off and the EHD virus along with them.

Beasley said that he and his neighbors have been reassured by DNR biologists that even if a deer who is killed now has had the virus, it does not affect the meat.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.