Wisconsin tracking deer disease outbreak, says it’s ‘spreading’

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s wildlife managers say the state’s deer population is at risk because of a growing EHD outbreak.

The state’s Department of Natural Resources last week said it is tracking deer deaths related to epizootic hemorrhagic disease.

"An ongoing EHD outbreak has been confirmed in wild deer in Washington County and suspect cases are also being reported from northern Waukesha and Ozaukee counties. The DNR continues to catalogue all reports of potentially impacted deer, but sampling is prioritized in regions where the virus has not already been confirmed this summer," the DNR said in a statement. "The DNR is tracking this outbreak through reported sightings of recently dead deer in the area."

The DNR said it had received 100 reports of dead deer through the middle of August, but those reports have spiked. As of Monday, the DNR said it has received 600 reports of dead deer.

Some of those are in southeast Wisconsin, specifically Waukesha and Ozaukee counties.

EHD is often deadly for deer and has been a problem in Wisconsin for years. The DNR said EHD was first confirmed in 2002, but the outbreak began to grow in 2012.

There are now 24 counties that have or have had an EHD case.

"Department staff continues to monitor the deer herd for indications of HD and ask citizens to report any unusual observations of dead deer to the DNR," the department said. "In areas where HD regularly occurs, death rates are lower, usually less than 25% of the population, in areas where the disease rarely occurs. In Wisconsin, death rates can be much higher and high-density deer herds may have higher mortality rates."

Wildlife managers say there are clear signs of infected deer.

“Deer that are infected and have the most severe cases of the disease may be unafraid of humans, salivate excessively, have foam present around the nose (sometimes with blood), appear weak but in good body condition and may appear to have swollen areas of their body (typically the areas of the head and neck). Deer may also be found in or near water, as they can develop very high fevers and be dehydrated,” the DNR added.

But most EHD cases are confirmed only after the deer had died.

While EHD is often deadly for deer, the DNR said it is not a risk to humans.

This story originally appeared on thecentersquare.com.