Post by Woody Williams on Jan 9, 2012 7:43:59 GMT -5
Northern Plains hit hard by deer-killing disease
In northeast Montana, officials said 90 percent or more of whitetail have been killed along a 100-mile stretch of the Milk River from Malta to east of Glasgow. Whitetail deaths also have been reported along the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers in western North Dakota and eastern Montana and scattered sites in Wyoming, South Dakota and eastern Kansas.
The deaths are being attributed to an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD. Transmitted by biting midges, EHD causes internal bleeding that can kill infected animals within just a few days.
news.yahoo.com/northern-plains-hit-hard-deer-killing-disease-153148327.html
WW - Hemorrhaigc Disease (HD) outbreaks in the northern Midwest and northern Plains are usually the most severe mortality-wise because outbreaks occur so rarely there, hence the deer have no natural immunity. In the Deep South, where HD is endemic (occurs every year), deer have build up an immunity due to constant exposure.
But also remember HD is not contageous between deer.
