The Department of Natural Resources asks hunters and other Michigan residents to continue to report sightings of dead deer to help with the department’s efforts to monitor the outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in the state this year.
Deer have died in substantial numbers in at least 29 counties this summer and fall due to EHD, and the DNR’s Wildlife Division is recording reports of dead deer in these areas in order to answer questions from the public and prepare informed hunting season recommendations for 2013. The department will be taking reports of dead deer that are likely EHD-related until Jan. 1.
“Some people may have the perception that, once we have confirmed the presence of EHD in an area, we are no longer interested in additional reports of dead deer in those areas,” said Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. ”That is not true. We want the reports. Any and all reports, whether the deer seem to have died recently or not so recently, will help ensure we have accurate information about the extent of die-offs.”
To report the presence of dead deer, the DNR encourages residents to contact their nearest Wildlife Office (information on Wildlife Offices is available at www.michigan.gov/wildlife, under Contact Information) or fill out the online Report Diseased Wildlife form.
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