COLUMBUS — Ohioans are reminded that Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease typically affects some white-tailed deer in the late summer, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
This is not unusual, as the disease is the most common ailment affecting deer in the eastern U.S., and the disease occurs annually in the late summer and fall in deer herds across North America. Ohio has documented some cases of the disease this summer, mostly in northwest Ohio.
The virus is not infectious to people and is not spread from animal to animal. It is transmitted by the bite of small insects called midges, so EHD-associated deaths in deer can occur until the first frost of the year causes a decline in midge activity. Once infected, deer show symptoms within five to 10 days, and many deer die within 36 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Deer infected with this virus may show symptoms, including lethargy, head hung down, loss of fear of humans, swelling of the tongue and head and neck, difficulty breathing and excess salivation. Affected deer are often found in or near bodies of water, likely because of fever and dehydration.
People should always avoid touching or handling sick or dead wild animals. Sightings of sick or dead deer should be reported at wildohio.gov/reportwildlife, your local Ohio wildlife officer or wildlife district office. For more information about the disease, visit wildohio.gov.
I Reported a dead deer hanging from a fence on the public towpath trail with the guidance of this blog and received the following response
From: Joseph.Ferrara@ohio.gov
Unfortunately, we do not remove dead animals. That responsibility would be on the landowner. More than likely the Metroparks if it is on the towpath, though it may fall on the neighbors land
Joseph Ferrara
Customer Service Asst.
ODNR Division of Wildlife