EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE & THE 2020 DEER



EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE & THE 2020 DEER SEASON – 25 SEPTEMBER 2020 As most of you probably know by now, the deer herd in the lower Hudson Valley has been affected this year by an outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). This disease is a caused by a virus and is transmitted by midges - very tiny semi-aquatic biting flies also known as “no-see-ums”. When a midge feeds on an infected deer, it picks up the virus and then passes it on when it subsequently feeds on an uninfected deer. Infected deer suffer from internal bleeding, fever, shock and eventual death. EHD manifests as dead and dying deer appear without apparent injury, often near water. There are no known effective treatments to save infected deer or mitigations to prevent outbreaks. Thankfully, EHD does not affect humans or pets, and cannot be transmitted even from one deer to another without first passing through a midge during each transmission. EHD outbreaks tend to occur in late summer and early fall when deer concentrate near midge breeding sites. This disease is endemic to the southern United States but has traveled through deer populations to the northern-most extent of its range where we live. Outbreaks end with the coming of cold weather in the autumn when the first frost kills off the midge population. In this area, outbreaks have historically occurred intermittently. Prior to this year’s outbreak, EHD last struck deer in this area in 2011 when it occurred in Rockland County and northern New Jersey. The EHD outbreak of 2020 is widespread and is currently affecting multiple counties and townships throughout our area. For more information, see the Cornell University Wildlife Health Program’s EHD Fact Sheet at ).242570134366000 At West Point, we, in the Natural Resources Branch, have responded to dead deer reports on the reservation in mid- to late August and throughout September. In almost every case, the cause of death was not obvious as most carcasses were in an advanced state of decay. Still, we had our suspicions. On September 3rd, 2020, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) confirmed the presence of EHD in Orange and Putnam Counties. On September 21st, we located a freshly dead deer showing several clinical signs of EHD. All told, we have responded to over a dozen dead deer on Post (Cantonment) and in the nearby woods. Off-post detection is considerably more difficult, and it is unknown if deer in wooded areas are equally at risk. (For more information, see DEC press release at ).PICTURED LEFT, This deer, found near Central Area on Main Post almost certainly succumbed to EHD. Note the discolored tongue due to lack of blood oxygen. The lesions on the tip of the tongue are typical of the disease. When moved, blood ran from the deer’s mouth indicating bleeding into the lungs. There were no other visible external injuries. Many of you will have questions as to how the presence of EHD will affect this year’s deer harvest, both in general for hunting in our region of New York State and specifically in hunting here at West Point. For a big picture view of EHD in the Hudson Valley, we contacted the NYS DEC regional deer biologist in New Paltz. The State has no current plans to alter harvest, preferring a wait-and-see approach for now. The thinking is that EHD in this area has not shown itself to significantly impact deer populations long-term, that deer populations are resilient through birth rates and emigration from source populations, and that only a portion of EHD related mortality is additive to total mortality (i.e. some portion of the deer lost to EHD would have been taken by hunters anyway). In this region, the state management strategy has been to address regional over-abundance by maintaining or slightly reducing the population to balance with ecological and cultural carrying capacity. Population maintenance is managed through the doe take by issuing or withholding DMP tags. Should the buck take be diminished, indicating a substantial population hit, the State will respond by limiting the number of future 3P DMP tags issued. Here at West Point, we at the Natural Resources Branch have considered an appropriate local response and, in the best interests of hunter safety, herd health, and issue tracking, have the settled on the following recommendations and requests:First, any hunter that observes a deer showing any sign of EHD - including drooling, dehydration, loss of motor control or exhibiting strange behavior - should not harvest such an animal. It will be poor food. With specific respect to EHD, Early Season deer hunters are more likely to encounter deer with EHD. With the onset of colder weather, the midges that spread the disease should be killed off and so Regular and Late Season deer hunter are less likely to encounter deer with EHD. However, regardless of when or where such a deer or any other sick game is encountered, sound advice in general to all sportsmen: Never consume a sick animal.Second, rather than change our deer harvest regulations for hunters this year, we are advocating for a voluntary response from our hunters - please consider limiting your harvest to one West Point deer this year. Since a. annual bag limits were already published in the 2020-21 West Point Hunting Notice; b. many of you have already purchased your tags, permits, and licenses; and c. the state is not advocating for a change in management, a local regulation requiring further harvest reduction beyond what we already mandate does not seem productive. Instead we are asking hunters who want to try for a second or a third deer in 2020, consider hunting off-reservation. The State’s prediction for the long term impact of EHD on the local deer population is most likely true and any population loss will likely bounce back, but we have done a great deal to improve the herd here at West Point through local regulation and should preserve the gains we have made, if possible.Third, we are asking that any hunters who discover a deer carcass (excluding those on highway roadsides) or who encounter a live, suspect deer at West Point to please report that animal to us. Awareness of the extent of the problem is important and hunters are an invaluable resource. We are consolidating and reporting on incidence of dead deer to the State. Hunters should report discovery of a carcass or suspect animal encounter via email titled “EHD Report” to christopher.w.killough3.civ@mail.mil including date, time, location, and if possible, a photo.We do not yet know the extent of the damage caused by EHD and are unlikely to until after the season. Limiting the take to the voluntary minimum will do much to mitigate any potential EHD population loss by limiting total mortality. Good data, shared with the State agency, will help determine next steps. It’s a responsible thing to do, and I’m sure something our hunting community can get behind.Best to you, and good luck if you go.Christopher PrayNatural Resources Manager845-938-7122 ................
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