Sep 23, 2017 4 min read

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease.

Just writing the name makes me shudder. It’s like an old deadly enemy has returned.

I hope my information is wrong but I am again hearing reports of EHD striking south of West Finley. It was not that long ago when John Dino and I travelled this area finding dead deer along almost every waterway. Little streams feeding into the Enlow were littered with dead deer. One could hardly step outside without smelling the death in the air.

If indeed we are heading for a bad EHD attack on our deer, all that will stop it is a cold snap bringing with it a heavy frost, The virus that causes the disease is carried from an infected host to another deer is a little flying midge. It seems this midge can’t take the cold weather and dies when the frost hits.

The disease, as I understand it, is close to 90 percent fatal once contracted, and while water doesn’t cause the disease the infected deer heads to water in an attempt to cool the fever and replace the blood being lost. Again, I am no biologist, but I believe it is important to understand because it affects our deer population. The name of this disease tells the story. The word Epizootic refers to any wild animal, and the second word refers to what kills the host. Internal organs bleed and the animal bleeds to death internally. The bleeding is internal but sometimes shows up in the animals’ feces or urine.

There have been minor outbreaks over the years with big ones occurring in the west. We have been fortunate here in Pennsylvania to be free from major infestations. But, if true, this would be the second invasion of the EHD virus in the last 10 years. Could it be caused by global warming? There is little doubt that the earth is growing warmer. That is not the debate. The question is: is man the cause?

For the hunters, the interest is in the fact the buck he has be watching might not be alive come the season. Sad but true. EHD does not play favorites. Fawn, mother doe, button buck or trophy buck, its all the same to those little blood suckers that transmit the disease. I certainly hope I am wrong and that I am being misled by those calling me.

• While it is a good idea to drive carefully, that advice is especially true this time of the year. As temperatures cool and daylight hours dip the deer become more active. When November arrives on the scene, they will be in full rut and the bucks will put caution aside and cross roads, driveways and sidewalks. The buck no longer cares. That coy female will run away and he will give chase.

While, at times, the deer/auto collision is all but impossible to avoid ,there are steps the driver can take to cut the odds. First, don’t drive quite as fast in the late evening. Second, keep in mind there are types of places where deer are more likely to dart out. Be careful of places where the vegetation, be it trees or high weeds, close to the road itself. Deer like cover and to be seen, and you have a better chance of seeing and avoiding them out in the open. Also, keep an eye open for the reflection of the deer eyes along the road at dark. And for goodness sake, slow down if a deer crosses the road in front of you. Where there is one there will likely be others.

Whatever you do, regardless of the circumstance, don’t blame the deer. He just doesn’t have the smarts to stay out of harm’s way. You, as the human being, are the intelligent one so take precautions and both you and the deer will have a happier fall this year.

• I can see little reason to drive up to Pymatuming Lake with hope of catching a few walleye. Jim Roberts, who most readers know by now is my source for this area, just came back from there and said the fishing has been dead all year. He said this trip was one of the worst. He and a partner fished for three days without so much as a single bite. That’s bad for Jim, who is a great fisherman and knows how to catch walleye.

If I were questioning the fish commission, I’d certainly ask what is going on with Pymatuming? There are no carp at the feeding spot. Now the ducks have to swim for there are no carp to walk on.

George Block writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter.