2025 EHD?

[Bighoun52]

Curious observation, I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has seen anything like this. We have a "yard doe" that has been hanging around the property all summer. She's been easy to spot for the last week+ because she has sort of a spotty coat. It's like her fall coat started coming in early so she is easy to ID. About 10 days ago, she had that lethargic, weak-looking, apathetic demeanor that made me think she's got EHD and she doesn't have long. She's still alive, still acting the same. I literally can see her out my window right now by our pines. She's practically been standing in one place for almost 15 minutes now. I read online some deer do survive EHD, so it makes me wonder if she's had/does have it but she might survive it? It's interesting that I have read about southern deer developing some level of immunity from EHD. I'm optimistic at this point she might survive, but we'll see what happens.

If I remember right from what I have read, 20% of deer can or will survive the illness. The mothers can pass along some level of immunity to their fawns the next spring. But it only lasts one year. Also if a different variant of ehd hits, the immunity may not help.

 

[at1010]

If I remember right from what I have read, 20% of deer can or will survive the illness. The mothers can pass along some level of immunity to their fawns the next spring. But it only lasts one year. Also if a different variant of ehd hits, the immunity may not help.

I believe this is correct, similar to what I have read. It is also similar to most viruses. Cattle (I think) are more immune due to constant bacterial and viral inoculations occurring. Basically, the flu shot changes each year, ever so slightly, to mimic the flu variants likely to be most common that particular season.

It is interesting that some in the SE part of the USA say they dont get EHD like they used to see it, and that they equate that to herd immunity over the years? I am not sure if there is any validity there, but I have seen that claim made multiple times this year on the internet from folks.

 

[bowhunter1023]

The DNR was in my taxidermist's shop last year taking CWD samples. He saw my bucks hooves and said it could be a sign of surviving EHD. Not sure what lead him to belive that, but an interesting observation nonetheless.