Hunting News

Hunters, landowners asked to report EHD in deer

Hunters, landowners asked to report EHD in deer

By Illinois Department of Natural Resources

This fall hunters and landowners are being asked to assist the Department of Natural Resources by reporting suspected cases of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in Illinois.

There have been 55 reported cases of EHD in white-tailed deer from 17 counties so far in 2018.
EHD is appearing at low to moderate levels in counties on or near the Illinois River including Fulton, McDonough, Peoria and Putnam.

Scattered suspected EHD cases have also been reported in the central and southern Illinois counties of Alexander, Macon, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Randolph, Richland, Union, Wabash, Wayne and Williamson.

The worst year for EHD in Illinois was 2012, when 2,043 cases were reported from 76 counties. In 2013, the IDNR received reports of 403 cases from 51 counties. EHD was virtually absent in 2014 and at low levels in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

The Department of Natural Resources continues asks landowners, hunters and concerned citizens to be on the lookout for dead or dying deer, and to report suspected EHD cases to their local DNR field office, or to the Wildlife Disease and Invasive Species Program (WDIS).

Biologists are especially interested in sick or recently dead animals; staff may attempt to collect tissue samples to confirm the presence of the EHD virus.

ind contact information for local DNR biologists online.

Contact the WDIS Program by calling (815)369-2414 or by emailing doug.dufford@illinois.gov.

Please provide your name and contact information, the county, number of dead/sick deer, sex of the deer (if known), age (fawn or adult), and the specific location of the deer (distance/direction from the nearest town or intersection of two roads).

EHD is a viral disease of white-tailed deer that can cause localized die-offs when conditions are favorable for transmission. Infected animals develop a high fever, and dead animals often are found near water sources.

Hunters may encounter deer killed by EHD when they go into the woods during upcoming deer hunting seasons. EHD outbreaks typically end when freezing weather kills the insects that spread the virus. While often fatal to deer, EHD is not hazardous to humans or pets.

Although EHD is observed somewhere in Illinois every year, cases are more numerous during hot and dry summer weather conditions, presumably because receding water levels create these muddy areas, providing breeding sites for the midges. Limited water resources also congregate deer at remaining watering sites, creating conditions favorable for disease transmission.

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