Mange In Whitetails

[Izzy]

Not what I want to see after the winter the deer have had to endure already. While walking out back before dark yesterday I jumped a large bodied deer from the neighbors ravine and it looks healthy enough but oddly it had "snow" covering one side of it.

     Well, today at dinner Jackson started barking at something in the yard and there it was. The same deer but this time I could see it wasn't snow but it was missing hair. It was with another deer which had no hair loss or any other signs of illness. With all of the barking they didn't stay long and when it turned I saw that the other side was nearly bald.

      Did a bit of Google research and found that it is like many unwanted pests, its an invasive from Asia (a mite) that causes this. The article said that this infection is usually  observed in fawns and is usually fatal.  This is a full grown deer but by the looks of whats left of its hair I don't think it has a chance of survival. Anyone else ever seen such a thing? Im truly bummed.

[A.S.]

I killed a large doe several years ago with the same thing. She look healthy (before I shot her-of course) other than the missing hair.

[SheltonCreeker]

Well Izzy I have very little knowledge of balding in deer. But if you wanted to talk about it in Males in their early 30's I got a lot of experience. Maybe the old gal will make it!

[Whitetail Addict]

Never seen anything like that before, I hope it doesn't become a big problem. As cold as It's been here in NY lately, I'm surprised it hasn't already died.

Bob

[Hud]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/hair_loss/  

Washington has been dealing with the problem, caused by lice. This is just one article of many you can find.

[Hud]

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/wildlife/?getPage=322  

Hair loss resulted in a 50% losses in central WA (Yakima) where Blacktail and Mule Deer are known to crossbreed. Also, has shown up in Chelan Co. in North Central WA. The Mule deer generally do not migrate that far, so the lice must be on birds, or other hosts that are spreading the infestation.  Also reported in ID.

[Izzy]

Originally posted by Whitetail Addict:
Never seen anything like that before, I hope it doesn't become a big problem. As cold as It's been here in NY lately, I'm surprised it hasn't already died.

Bob

Thanks for the responses fellas. I have noticed she had it for several weeks after looking over my trail can pics but she's getting worse. I have notified the area game warden and we're gonna see if we can get her for testing. I will also hear more from the state pathologist on Monday. Doesn't look good at all for the local deer.

[Hatrick]

Just this Wednesday I saw a doe with severe hair loss at a facility just inside the Washington DC city limits. This facility has a very large wooded area adjacent to it. I have to go there 6-8 times a year and it's not uncommon to see deer there. This doe was browsing and looked surpisingly of normal weight and otherwise healthy. I can't imagine the hair loss (lice infestation?)would not be affecting the rest of the herd and eventually cause a die off.

[Whitetail Addict]

I know It's natural for these types of things to happen, but I always hate to hear about it happening, anywhere.

Good luck in getting her Izzy, I hope It's a fluke, and she tests negative. Please keep us posted.

Bob

[buckracks7]

I only saw one like that, but it was also covered with ticks. I attributed the hair loss to the ticks, but I really didn't know for sure.

Wondering if the Michigan boys have seen any of this...