Traverse City Record-Eagle

Michigan

September 16, 2012

Expert: Hundreds of Mich. deer killed by disease

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BATTLE CREEK (AP) — Hundreds of dead whitetail deer have been found in southwestern Michigan, the result of a disease spread by insects.

At least 200 deer have been reported in Calhoun County and another 250 have been spotted in Branch County. The numbers, however, probably are higher because not all deer are reported by people who see a carcass, an expert told the Battle Creek Enquirer.

"They are hesitant because it is just a dead deer," said Ken Kesson, a wildlife biologist at the state Department of Natural Resources.

The illness is called epizootic hemorrhagic disease. It could continue to spread until a hard frost kills the insects, Kesson said.

"It's not a threat to humans, pets, or livestock and it just runs its course," he said. "There is not a whole lot that can be done from the state's standpoint."

With more than 1 million deer in the state, the disease is not expected to significantly reduce the Michigan population. Nonetheless, dead deer can be unsettling to people who find them.

Many deer have been seen along the Kalamazoo River, where they likely collapsed while trying to cool their overheated bodies. They lose their appetite and fear of people.

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