NEWS

Gnat-borne disease is killing deer near Roseburg

Henry Miller
Statesman Journal

Tests have confirmed that deer in the Roseburg area are dying from epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which previously had not been seen in the area.

Lab results from Oregon State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab tested positive for EHD late the past week.

This year, more than 100 deer have died in the Roseburg area with similar symptoms. Most of the deer were found west of Roseburg or near Umpqua Community College.

EHD is transmitted to deer via the bites of Culicoides gnats, commonly called no-see-ums.

Columbian white-tailed deer are particularly susceptible, but it can infect black-tailed deer as well.

Both a black-tailed deer and a Columbian white-tailed deer collected in the Roseburg area tested positive for EHD, and samples of other deer found dead are being tested.

Anyone who sees a sick deer in the Roseburg area should call the Roseburg Fish and Wildlife office at (541) 440-3353 or the Wildlife Health Hotline at (866) 968-2600.

Archery deer hunting and some controlled deer hunts are open in southwest Oregon, and any hunter who takes a deer that appears to be sick should contact Fish and Wildlife.

EHD cannot spread to people from animals.

Colin Gillin, an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife veterinarian, said symptoms resemble the more common adenovirus hemorrhagic disease (AHD).

EHD causes weakness, excessive salivation and bloody diarrhea.

Deer with EHD also develop a rapid pulse and respiration rate and fevers – which is why they frequently are found lying in water to try and cool their bodies.

Deer finally become unconscious and die.

“We have never seen EHD before in this area, and it’s a new threat to deer,” said Tod Lum, an Umpqua District wildlife biologist for Fish and Wildlife. “Low-water conditions and pools of stagnant water along the rivers provide ideal breeding conditions for the gnats that transmit EHD.

“There isn’t much we can do to prevent this disease other than wait for the rains to come or cold temperatures to knock back the gnats.”

There also have been reports of more than 200 dead deer in Jackson and Josephine counties.

Samples from those deer tested positive for the more common AHD, which is spread through nose-to-nose contact.