EHD sucks

[Harold Pickens]

John,I went to high school in Jefferson county, not far from Stuebenville ,and yes EHD hit hard there a few years ago, I found 3 big trophy deer in one day while pheasant hunting (released birds). Deer have since recovered. Curious, what's your father in law's last name? Been an optometrist in that area for 43 years, now retired.

[Stan Hillis]

How does EHD get started in a population of whitetail deer?

[Harold Pickens]

It's a virus, carried by a biting fly or midge that lives around mud and water. The DNR says it occurs during periods of drought, but this year was one of the wettest on record. We had 12 in of rain in August/September. It hit by my house last year and at Ogelbay Park the grounds people said they carted close to 250 deer off the golf coursees.
The strange thing is that no predator -- coyote, coon, possum, not even a vulture will touch them. It can't be transferred from deer to deer and the first frost kills the midge. It has even changed the deer regulations in areas that were hard hit.

[Harold Pickens]

It's a virus, carried by a biting fly or midge that lives around mud and water. The DNR says it occurs during periods of drought, but this year was one of the wettest on record. We had 12 in of rain in August/September. It hit by my house last year and at Ogelbay Park the grounds people said they carted close to 250 deer off the golf coursees.
The strange thing is that no predator -- coyote, coon, possum, not even a vulture will touch them. It can't be transferred from deer to deer and the first frost kills the midge. It has even changed the deer regulations in areas that were hard hit.

[Stan Hillis]

Thanks, Harold.