Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease sweep through Ohio’s deer population

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The ongoing lack of rain has led to an epidemic in Ohio’s deer population called Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD).

With over 5,000 reported cases throughout Ohio and mostly in the Southeastern region, the illness presents itself through pronounced swelling of head, neck, tongue and eyelids. They may also appear disoriented with little to no fear of humans. The spread of the disease is attributed to the bites from a type of fly called a midge, which deer are particularly exposed to in times of drought.

“With not a lot of rain fall, you got stagnant pools of water and that’s where the midge likes to lay its eggs. And the deer like to go to those stagnant pools. They’re out of the way, in the woods and that’s where they pick up the disease,” Muskingum County Wildlife Officer Jeff Berry said.

According Berry, most of the deer that contract EHD succumb to the disease with 72 hours. The impact of this illness is so severe that the Ohio Division of Wildlife hopes people can report any deer they see exhibiting symptoms.

“It’s very important, you know, [that] people contact us to report any dead or sick deer so we can document it and distribute it, and the severity of the disease outbreak. It helps us follow, and track, and keep numbers,” Berry said.

EHD will stop spreading after the first frost of the season quells the midge fly population. You can contact your county’s Wildlife Officer or call 1-800-WILDLIFE to report any sick or dead deer.