Deadly deer disease in one county in the Southwest corner of Michigan has spread to 10 more counties in West Michigan, which is the worst outbreak in 12 years.

This Time It's Not Chronic Wasting Disease

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Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was first found in caged deer in 2008 but 9 years ago it was found in free-ranging deer.

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CWD is a fatal, contagious disease that affects deer's nervous system. Deer affected by CWD experience weight loss, drooling, running in circles, and becoming not afraid of humans. The disease attacks the brain and deer eventually die due to CWD.

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To try and protect Michigan's deer herd from the spreading of CWD, the Department of Natural Resources banned baiting and feeding deer in the entire Lower Peninsula. The baiting ban has not removed CWD but prevented it from spreading and getting worse. CWD is still a problem for the DNR and Michigan hunters. There is a disease in deer that has not been around in 12 years spreading fast in West Michigan herds.

Read More: West Mi Deer Hunters Beware, Virus Found in 120 Animals

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Confirmed in Deer in 11 West Michigan Counties

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Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) was reported in Michigan's St. Joseph County in early September and was found in 120 dead deer. In just one month, EHD has been found in deer in the following West Michigan Counties:

  • Barry
  • Berrien,
  • Branch
  • Calhoun
  • Cass
  • Hillsdale,
  • Kalamazoo,
  • Kent Ottawa,
  • St. Joseph
  • Van Buren
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My neighbor has a friend who owns property along the Grand River and he mentioned to me a few weeks ago about his friend finding 20 dead deer near the river. I had told him that EHD had been found in St. Joseph County and that the DNR believed it had already spread to nearby counties. Neither my neighbor nor I thought the disease had already infected Kent County deer but it has. To learn more about the effects of EHD click here.

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According to WOOD, the DNR said this year's cases of EHD are the worst since 2012 when an estimated 14,000 deer in 30 counties died taking herds 5 years to recover. So far about 2,000 deer have been found dead due to EHD. Midges biting deer is spreading the disease and it will take a good frost to kill them off to stop the spread.

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If you spot dead deer near the water where you hunt please report those to this link so the DNR can properly track the disease.

Michigan's 2024 Liberty Hunt Whitetail Deer Harvest By County

Michigan's 2024 Deer Season is underway, and with the Liberty/Youth Hunt in the books, here's a county-by-county countdown to the area that had the most deer harvested between September 14-15, 2024, courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Harvest Report.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

Michigan 2023 Deer Season Review: Full 83 County Harvest Report

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

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