GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Department of Natural Resources is tracking the spread of a virus among deer in a number of West and Southwest Michigan counties.
The DNR says that early September, epizootic hemorrhagic disease , more commonly referred to as EHD, has been confirmed in deer in 11 counties: Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ottawa, St. Joseph and Van Buren.
Deer virus found in West Michigan for first time since 2021
EHD is a virus spread among the white-tailed deer by infected midges. Infected deer lose their appetite, are weak and have a rapid pulse and fever. They are less afraid of people. Severe cases can be fatal.
There’s no evidence people or their pets can contract EHD, the DNR says — not from the midge, deer or venison.
“EHD is not expected to have widespread deer population-level impacts, but it can significantly affect localized areas if mortality is severe,” Chad Fedewa, acting deer specialist for the DNR Wildlife Division, explained in a Thursday statement. “After an outbreak, local deer populations usually rebound after a few years. That has been the case over the last decade or so each time we have seen this virus show up.”