ORIGINAL: bristowboy_20


What Can Be Done to Prevent or Control Hemorrhagic Disease?
At present, there is little that can be done to prevent or control hemorrhagic disease. Risks will be
minimized in deer herds that do not exceed the carrying capacity of their habitat. This same
concept holds true for most other diseases and parasites of whitetails. The best and only practical
means of regulating deer populations is through properly managed sport hunting, including
harvest of anterless deer as necessary. Although die-offs of whitetails due to hemorrhagic
disease often cause alarm, past experiences have shown that mortality will not totally decimate
local deer populations and that the outbreak will be curtailed by the onset of cold weather.
Livestock owners who suspect EHD or bluetongue virus infections should seek veterinary
assistance to get diagnostic confirmation and supportive care for their animals.
Information and photos reprinted with permission from the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife
Disease Study (SCWDS) group.