Here’s What You Should Do if You See Sick or Dead Deer in Kentucky

With Deer Crossbow Season underway, there's an important message from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. According to a social media post made Monday, officials are seeing an increase in reports of suspected cases of Hemorrhagic Disease in white-tailed deer.

A few years ago, the department released a YouTube video that explains the impact of Hemorrhagic Disease, which is also commonly referred to as Bluetongue.

This video explains the difference between HD and CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease).

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Hemorrhagic Disease, which is caused by biting flies (midges), can be fatal to deer. When it occurs, it usually triggers large-scale outbreaks.  Fish and Wildlife officials are concerned the state may be potentially experiencing one of the those outbreaks now.

If you spot a sick or dead deer, you are asked to report that to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

There are a couple of ways to do so:

1) You can report that online. Again, this is if you see sick or dead deer (or elk).  There's a quick survey you can complete HERE!

2) You can call Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-858-1549. That hotline is operational Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm Eastern Standard Time.

Thankfully, the outbreak of Hemorrhagic Disease, which can cause large-scale die-offs among white-tails, typically subsides once the first hard frost of the season arrives. That frost has the power to kill those midges, the biting flies that cause the infection.

According to KY Fish and Wildlife, "populations of these flies thrive in summers with early rainfall followed by dry spells."

We have certainly experienced that here in Kentucky, where the entire state is in a Level One Drought. It's been incredibly dry the last couple of months. We are a prime breeding ground for those midges. "Deer infected with HD often seek out water to drink or cool off." That's precisely why many infected and deceased deer are found near streams or ponds.

If you'd like to learn more about Hemorrhagic Disease in the white-tail deer population, you can do so at fw.ky.gov.