Here's an article from the local WS Journal newspaper this morning.
WILKESBORO --
Cooler weather should end an outbreak of hemorrhagic disease that has killed hundreds of deer along the base of eastern slopes of North Carolina's northwestern mountain counties and in the foothills.
The virus is spread by midges, tiny biting flies or gnats, and fall freezes usually kill the insects.
The disease can't be transmitted to humans.
The outbreak hasn't led to any changes in the season's hunting regulations, but wildlife officials want hunters to be aware of it.
Bow hunting season opened the first weekend of September in northwest North Carolina. Muzzleloader and gun seasons open next month.
Symptoms exhibited by infected deer can vary widely, including swelling in the head and tongue, and hemorrhages and lesions in the heart, mouth and stomach.
Deer seeking relief from high fever go in search of water, and carcasses have often been found near streams or ponds.
It's a common disease among deer, but the number of deer affected in the outbreak has been unusual, said Chris Kreh, a biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
The disease thinned out some overpopulated locations, but hunters may choose to voluntarily limit harvests in hard-hit areas.
"If your goal is to help the herd rebound as quickly as possible on your property, that would be the thing to do," Kreh said.
About 300 affected deer have been reported in Wilkes County, but the number is likely higher because not every carcass is found and reported.
The deer population has been hit hardest in Caldwell County north of N.C. 18; in Wilkes, roughly north of U.S. 421; and in Surry County west of Interstate 77.
A survey by wildlife officials last month showed the number of reported cases at 448 in Caldwell County; 177 in Wilkes and 139 in Surry. That compared with 6 reported cases in Yadkin and none in Forsyth County.
The outbreak was first noticed in the Yadkin River corridor in June and July.
About 20 dead deer were found in Stone Mountain State Park in Wilkes County in July, but no similar outbreaks were noted in other state parks, said Charlie Peek, a spokesman for the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
Staff members at Stone Mountain State Park removed deer carcasses from trails and water sources near visitor areas, but they didn't go into more remote areas where the number could have been higher, Peek said.
Wildlife officials don't yet know the region's deer mortality rate, but during past outbreaks in other places, it was 30 percent to 50 percent of the herd. The numbers in northwest North Carolina could be in that range, Kreh said, and officials will have a better idea once this year's hunting season concludes.
The spread of the disease is associated with the number of disease-carrying insects.
Last winter's mild weather, coupled with an early spring and lower stream levels, helped create favorable breeding conditions for midges. The disease is not uncommon, but it often afflicts herds in the eastern part of the state. The local outbreak could have been made worse by the severity of the virus strain and a herd's lack of immunity.
Wildlife officials plan to continue closely monitoring deer populations in the area, and they expect a high mortality rate.
"(But) we started with a really good, strong, robust deer population," Kreh said. "There's a lot of reason to be optimistic the deer can rebound quickly."
Topic: NC outbreak of hemorrhagic disease in deer (Read 159 times)
