More Than 1,000 Sick or Dead Deer Reported Across Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Wildlife officials are monitoring a widespread outbreak affecting the state’s deer population after more than 1,000 sick or dead deer have been reported in recent weeks. According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), the increase is linked to Hemorrhagic Disease (HD)—a condition that appears annually in deer populations throughout the Southeast. HD is caused by either the epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) or bluetongue virus (BTV). The disease spreads through small biting flies known as midges, which are most active during the summer months. Infected deer typically begin showing symptoms within a week of being bitten. Symptoms can include fever, swelling of the head and neck, trouble breathing, lameness, and lethargy. Many deer seek out water sources to cool off as the disease progresses, which is why carcasses are often found near ponds and streams. As of September 22, the KDFWR reported: • 553 statewide reports affecting 94 counties • 1,074 deer reported sick or dead • 32 samples submitted, with 19 testing positive and 11 still pending Cases have also been confirmed in neighboring Tennessee, where the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency reported outbreaks in eight counties. Officials stress that HD is not the same as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). While HD can be deadly, many deer do survive and develop antibodies that can be passed to offspring. In contrast, CWD is always fatal. The good news, according to KDFWR, is that cases typically decline rapidly once cooler weather arrives, since midges cannot survive freezing temperatures. HD poses no risk to humans. The virus can spread to other animals such as elk, livestock, or dogs, but it is rarely fatal in those species. Residents who encounter sick or dead deer are encouraged to file a report online through the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources website: 👉 https://fw.ky.gov/.../Epizootic-Hemorrhagic-Disease-EHD...