Ask The Biologist

They’re Ugly, But ...

They’re Ugly, But ...

By Bob Humphrey

Abnormal skin growths are not always a serious problem

QUESTION: I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and we have a deer that comes into our yard quite often. She is nice and fat but has terrible looking growths. It started with just one clump, and now they are huge. I would like to know if these tumors can be spread to other deer.

ANSWER: The growths pictured appear to be something called a fibroma. Fibromas are essentially excessive growth of epithelial and dermal (skin) cells. They are typically dark brown or black, except in areas where the hair is white, where they are often tan or pink (unpigmented). They are caused by a viral infection, although biologists aren't entirely certain how they are transmitted. It could be through direct skin contact with other deer or objects that infected deer have come in contact with, or through blood-feeding insects.

They’re Ugly, ButThe good news is that except in extreme cases where the fibromas interfere with sight, eating, breathing, the ability of the deer to walk or other bodily functions, fibromas are rarely harmful to the deer. In many cases they will heal over time.

The even better news is that no human infection from cutaneous fibromas has been reported. Fibromas are typically associated just with the skin; so if you remove the skin, you remove the fibromas. The virus could be contagious to other deer, but it is not problematic enough to warrant removing her from the herd, except of course when it comes time to thin the herd and fill the freezer.

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