Deer Herds Decimated By EHD: No Apparent Risk to Humans Who Hunt and Eat Wild Game
It seems unimaginable that 90 percent of the whitetail deer population along a 100 mile stretch of a river in Montana could be killed in one season, but that is what the current numbers are suggesting.
Whitetail Deer are succumbing to biting midges which transmit the disease to the wildlife and the deer then often die from hemorrhagic problems. The internal bleeding can result in death within days of contracting the disease. It will take years and even decades to restore the populations of deer that have been affected this season.
Not only the whitetail deer, but also pronghorn (antelope), big horn sheep, elk, and mule deer are also hit by EHD. It is thought that the animals cannot transmit the disease to humans, even though they eat the venison. But is that actually true?
Remember to cook venison and wild meat thoroughly. No whitetail tartar this year… Just in case!
Northern Plains Herds Hard Hit by EHD Disease This Year
It’s not limited to northern Montana, but the disease extends to many states within proximity with officials tracking the incidence in each state as they do head counts and survey hunters. Reports suggest that this is the worst it has been in over two decades.
When any animal that is consumed by humans or enters the food chain dies from hemorrhaging, it concerns me. The biting midges linger at the bank of rivers where the wildlife come into contact with them. When seasonal weather patterns are prone to extend the muddy waters in their habitat, the disease decimates more of the deer population. It can take years to rebuild the herds.
The only good that comes from this is when cottonwood trees on the banks of the rivers and streams get more of a chance to grow to maturity. Our ecosystem is so unique and interconnected…
The health of our wildlife is an indicator of the health of the entire planet. The human behavior of hunting and land management issues that include wildlife are an integral part of our healthy Lifestyles.
