TOWN OF POLK, Wis. — A virus has killed more than 775 deer in Washington County just days before archery hunting season begins, raising concerns among hunters and wildlife officials.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, known as EHD, is spread by midges — tiny bugs that bite deer. Infected deer become lethargic and dehydrated before eventually hemorrhaging.
Hunter Michael Flanders found a dead doe in his woods that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said was most likely killed by EHD.
"It breaks my heart. It literally does. No creature should have to die like this," Flanders said. "Nobody likes to see animals suffer. This is not what we want."
He will not hunt this season for the first time in 40 years. His group of eight friends has also decided to sit out, and they're calling on the DNR to suspend deer hunting in Washington County this year.
"If this continues to decimate the herd and the DNR doesn't call for a stop to hunting deer this year in Washington County," he said. "It's going to decimate hunting in Washington County for generations to come."
DNR Wildlife Biologist Steffen Peterson, who monitors Washington and Ozaukee counties, acknowledged the local impact is severe.
"On a local scale, yeah, this is catastrophic!" he said. "If we're talking at a township level."
However, Peterson said the DNR will not advise people to stop hunting. He said the deer herd in the area has grown 42% over the last five years, consists of over 16,000 deer and will not be decimated by the outbreak.
"If we zoom the scope out to a county level, to a southeast Wisconsin level," he said. "I think that changes the story from catastrophic to something that our herd can withstand."
Peterson said there is no way to stop the spread of EHD. The DNR is asking the public to report any additional dead deer they find and that officials will study the full impacts of the outbreak next spring.
People can report dead deer through the following methods:
- email dnrwildlifeswitchboard@wisconsin.gov
- call 608-267-0866
Peterson also said there has been no known transfer of EHD from deer to humans, but the virus can spread to livestock. Officials are urging farmers in the area to monitor their animals closely.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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