There is a disease that has killed close to 100 deer this year and the cause of death is from a fly. These flies are also called no-see-ums and/or midges and this disease called EHD (EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC) has caused over 80 white tail deer deaths in Wisconsin this year. EHD usually affects deer in the late summer into fall because these biting flies are abundant at this time of year. Although EHD was first recorded in 1955 in Michigan it wasn’t until 1974 when there was significant number of white tail deer deaths in our neighboring states.

In 2002 the first cases of EHD in Wisconsin were recorded in Iowa county. At that time 14 white tail deer were found dead near water and tested positive for EHD. Outbreaks of this deadly disease had been sporadic since 2012 with 458 confirmed cases over 13 years. That number averages about 35 deer each year, but in 2019 (the worse year) 226 white tail deer were found dead from EHD. This year, close to 100 deer were discovered in Washington County (north of Milwaukee) dead from the Hemorrhagic disease and again found near water.

The Wisconsin DNR really does not know why some years are deadlier than others, but they do know the cause. It has been confirmed that the disease is transmitted by flies/midges, also known as NO-SEE-UMS or BITING GNATS. These deadly insects are mostly found by water/marsh other damp areas where they lay eggs and feed on nectar. This explains why these deer are being located near some kind of water.

There is good news and really good news, if you want to call it that. First, Epizootic Hemorrhagic only effects deer and other hoofed animals, so we are not susceptible to EHD or are our family pets. Second, EHD cannot be transmitted from one deer to another. Third, this deadly disease only occurs during late summer into the fall.  Forth, these insects will die after the first hard frost of the year.

The really good news, again if you want to call that, all of the areas that these deer are dying from EHD is located in mid to southern Wisconsin. The closest location with deer dying from EHD was in 2012 east of Madison. Let’s hope this Epizootic Hemorrhagic never reaches what we call home, THE NORTHWOODS.