|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Deer Hair-loss Syndrome (pdf)
Deer Hair-loss Syndrome Research (pdf)
Clinical Signs
- Nov —Dec.: darkening hair coat on the sides of the deer
- Jan. — April: hair loss and yellow to white discoloration of hair over the ribcage, flanks, rump and neck. Deer licking excessively, emaciation, diarrhea, lethargy, and death
- June — Oct: deer that survive have re-growth of hair and weight gain
- Percent affected animals within each observed group appears to be highly variable
- Field observations: Can see all combinations of affected and non-affected does and fawns together.
- Hair loss appears to be from self-mutilation
Ecology
- Recognized in western Washington deer since 1996-1997, western Oregon since 1998
- Wildlife agency staff in both states believe there was a southern expansion of the syndrome through Washington first then down through Oregon. Difficult to quantify due to anecdotal observations over the past 4 years. This syndrome may have been seen earlier in both states.
- Common to see "scruffy" deer in late winter and spring due to a variety of causes
- Oregon Black-tailed deer: Confirmed cases from the coast to the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains. North from the Columbia River, down to Grant’s Pass and suspected cases to Ashland.
Columbia white-tailed deer: Confirmed cases in the Umpqua Valley and north coast, but not reported on the lower Columbia River islands.
- Washington Black-tailed deer: Confirmed cases from the coast to the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains. North from British Columbia to the Columbia River.
Columbia white-tailed deer: Has not been reported
- Seen in both open agricultural and forested habitat
- Affected deer seen at lower elevations
- Oregon - below 1000 feet
- Washington - below 2000 feet
- Affects fawns and does, and less commonly adults males
- Affected fawns appear to have a higher mortality than affected does
- Some field staff in both states very concerned about the small number of fawns regionally seen in late spring.
Summary of Necropsy Results
- Decreased body fat (loss of body condition)
- Verminous pnemonia (parasite-related)
- Parelaphostrongylus sp. — muscle worm (larvae and eggs in lungs, larvae in feces)
- Pediculosis (large numbers of biting lice)
|
|
|
|
|
|
