The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is urging hunters and all residents to continue reporting any observations of sick or deceased deer. This request comes as the agency maintains its surveillance efforts for epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, across North Dakota.
The department emphasized that these reports are crucial for its staff to accurately assess the disease's severity and geographical spread, in addition to supporting ongoing research into EHD. With the recent opening of pheasant season, a period when more individuals are active outdoors, officials are actively encouraging anyone who encounters a deer appearing ill or found dead to submit a report. The department specifically noted that photographs accompanying these reports are especially beneficial.
Individuals can report sick or dead deer through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's online portal or by directly contacting the department via phone at 701-328-6351.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease is caused by a virus and is transmitted primarily by biting midges. While white-tailed deer are the most commonly affected species, the department notes that other ungulates such as pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and elk are also susceptible to infection. In North Dakota, outbreaks of EHD are typically observed in areas located southwest of the Missouri River. These outbreaks tend to correlate with specific environmental conditions, including wet springs followed by hot summers, periods of drought, and a late occurrence of the first hard frost, which plays a role in eliminating the midges responsible for spreading the disease.
Infected animals may exhibit a range of symptoms. These include signs of dehydration, an elevated body temperature, respiratory difficulties, and swelling that can affect the head, neck, or tongue. Additionally, sick deer might show indifference to human presence. A common observation is that deer afflicted with EHD often seek out water sources before succumbing to the illness, leading to groups of dead animals sometimes being discovered near bodies of water during the late summer or early fall months.
The department advises hunters against shooting or consuming any animal that appears to be sick. While EHD is not known to cause illness in humans, and there is no identified risk from handling or consuming meat from an infected animal, caution is still warranted. Secondary bacterial infections, which can affect an animal already weakened by EHD, have the potential to render the meat unsuitable for human consumption. Furthermore, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department recommends that caution always be exercised when handling any sick or dead animal, as there are other diseases that can be zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans.
