Deer culling in Riggins?

[timberline]

Just read a post on the IDFG website that they had to cull something like 60 mulies due to an exotic lice infestation. Just curious if anyone has firsthand knowledge of this infestation and is it as bad as the site makes it out to be?
Never like the idea of culling an already perilous deer herd but if its necissary to stop the spread of the lice then I guess its required. Just wondering if anyone has seen the deer this winter and could shed some light on the issue.

Thanks

 

[hookedondeer]

The local paper just said they put down 60 deer due to an exotic lice infection.

 

[gus_ruger]

Man I hope this is a rumor, mule deer magazine did an article a year or two ago on an exotic lice problem hammering the blacktails in Washington and Oregon,I believe the article stated that the lice come from axis/atlas deer imported for exotic hunts, the pictures they had of the infected blacktail deer were bad, bald patches and open sores from were the deer had bitten and rubbed the fur off. Could be another nail in the coffin of the mule deer, another negative side effect from importing exotic/nonnative species for high fence hunts.

 

[timberline]

That is what the f&g post said also... that the lice came from exotic deer introduced into the U.S. i hope that their initial kill stops the spread, however it usually gets much worse if past experience teaches us anything.

 

[kicker]

The lice were said to be worse on deer in lower elevations aka Riggins. Too bad! The pics I saw were pretty bad they looked like an old mangey coyote. A lot of fawns had to die in the womb probably but if they are going to get the lice anyway I guess they had to do it. Just what Idaho needed another deer killer (lice).

 

[deerhuntr4885]

That is really bad news. I live in the middle of the infected area in WA and we lost about 70% of our local herds.

Mike Henne

 

[nvhunter]

so i would imagine the WhiteTails can get this too?

 

[kicker]

Deer in riggins killed to control exotic louse infestation

With help from USDA Wildlife Service, Idaho Fish and Game killed about 60 mule deer in Riggins to help stop the spread of an infestation of exotic lice.

In March 2009, a male mule deer about nine months old suffering from hair loss was reported in Riggins. Officials who responded found the deer dead and sent it to Idaho's Wildlife Health Lab for a necropsy. The animal was emaciated, with evidence of pneumonia and thousands of lice on the body - exotic lice not previously reported in Idaho.

The lice were first detected in the western U.S. following translocations of fallow deer and axis deer to the West Coast more than 40 years ago.

Infestation causes skin irritation and excessive scratching, resulting in hair loss. Hair loss is most common in late winter and early spring, and the affected deer may die as a result.

While an infestation of the louse may cause the death of deer, it has no known health concerns for humans or domestic animals.
Idaho Fish and Game's investigation has found the number of infested deer in Riggins has grown to about 75 to 80 percent. Attempts to control or eliminate the lice and to prevent their spread to adjacent deer populations include reducing deer numbers.

Using Wildlife Services was the most expedient means of reducing deer numbers in Riggins. Public hunts would not have been effective because of private property access and safe-fire zone issues.

Meat from the animals is being processed and will be turned over to local area food banks.

Fish and Game will continue to monitor for the exotic louse in the area and will consider other management options should infestations continue.

Wildlife veterinarians also hope to learn more about the health of the affected deer, and about how the lice spread. They hope to develop a program to prevent or treat future infestations.

For information about the exotic louse go to http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/hair_loss/index.html.