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September 20, 2012

Seasonal disease responsible for area deer die-off

By Keith Gushard Meadville Tribune

NORTH SHENANGO TOWNSHIP — A disease that normally strikes deer in the southern U.S. is suspected of killing at least 14 white-tailed deer in North Shenango Township in the last two days, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease is suspected of killing the deer that were found by agency employees on the Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area in North Shenango Township in western Crawford County, said Regis Senko, spokesman for the Game Commission’s regional office in Franklin. There were 11 deer found dead Tuesday and at least another three found Wednesday, he said.

While EHD is not infectious to humans, deer displaying severe symptoms of EHD may not be suitable for consumption. Deer develop internal hemorrhages and bleed to death.

Game Commission biologists are attempting to collect samples for testing at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia, which has confirmed deer moralities from four different strains of the EHD virus in 15 states this year.

Samples can be difficult to collect since deer with the disease decompose rapidly, Senko said. Samples must be collected within 24 hours of the animal’s death to be viable.

EHD is suspected as the cause locally since the disease has been confirmed in Beaver and Westmoreland counties and is suspected in Allegheny and Cambria counties.

Once the results are available, which normally takes around two weeks, the Game Commission will release the findings to the public.

EHD is suspected based on field investigations and the fact that EHD has been confirmed in southwest Pennsylvania, said Dr. Walter Cottrell, Game Commission wildlife veterinarian.

“There are no management actions or practices to prevent or limit mortality caused by EHD,” he said. “Fortunately, EHD should be curtailed with the first hard frost, which will kill the midges that are spreading the disease.”

EHD is a seasonal disease and the affected local deer herd can rebound quickly, he said.

It’s one of the most common diseases among white-tailed deer in the U.S. and is contracted by the bite of insects called “midges” or “no-see-ums,” according to Cottrell. The virus of EHD usually kills the animal within five to 10 days and isn’t spread directly from deer to deer.

In 2011, EHD was confirmed in Northampton and Erie counties. EHD was confirmed in southwestern Pennsylvania in 2007 and 2002. It also was suspected to be the cause of death in nearly 25 deer in Adams County in 1996, but tests conducted at that time were inconclusive.

“Pennsylvania deer do not usually live long enough to span the time between outbreaks, so they do not have immunity when the next outbreak comes along, and the disease will be fatal,” Dr. Cottrell said.



Reporting sick deer

Residents are being asked to report sightings of sickly looking deer, particularly those found near water, to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northwest Region Office at (814) 432-3188. The office serves Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango and Warren counties.

Information on epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, may be found on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website (pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on the “EHD Info” icon in the center of the homepage.

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