Has anybody noticed any dead deer in Marion and Mon county? I found 6 in the creek bottom below my hunting cabin this past weekend. I fear another EHD outbreak like we had about 10 years ago. These were all found near water.

Hemorrhagic Disease!

Yeah… gotta be. We’ve had our issues in VA over the years.

I have found over a dozen on my farm and surrounding areas in Marion co. Several reports from friends of a couple here and there. Based on what I’ve found so far it is earlier and worse than 2017. In 2017 I found them around my pond and creek drainage. This year I have retrieved 3 directly from the pond floating. The stench in the area is terrible. I was reading a press release by the WVDNR that EHD is confirmed in Marion Co (didn’t need a press release to figure that one out) and is suspected in Mon Co which I’m sure is true as my property is less than 1/2 mile from the Marion/Mon Co line. I live in Upshur and have seen no signs there.

Garymc, that definitely confirms my suspicion. Because that’s pretty much right where I’m at Marion,Mon with the closest town being Mannington.

Have yall been abnormally dry this summer?

Swamp wolf, apparently we have had the perfect storm for this. A very dry July an August that has made the perfect conditions for the Midge fly that causes this when deer drink from stagnant pools of water. I’ve actually done a lot of reading about this and I guess those midges which are almost fruit fly in size can actually get into the deers nasal passage and start biting from inside the deers nose. I’ve read that it only takes 3 to 5 days after that before death can result.

Was EHD a thing in the 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s?

Yes it has been one of the hottest driest summers in awhile. We hit sustained 90 degree plus days back in late June through July with very little rain. Normally we do not see that weather until August and if EHD hits it’s closer to the end of August.

I knew with the weather pattern we experienced earlier couple with a rising deer population we were in for a perfect storm scenario.

I personally feel EHD has been around for a long time it just was not as pronounced as it has been in the past due to a less deer.

I have a friend that lives in Mannington, he said there are a lot of dead deer. He said all you smell is rotting animals