The Associated Press reports that the 2011 outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in Eastern Montana and other parts of the Northern Plains could have killed more than 90 percent of whitetail deer along a 100-mile stretch of the Milk River from Malta to east of Glasgow. It’s a devastating blow to the species that may take years to recover from, according to wildlife officials. The disease, transmitted by biting midges, causes internal bleeding that can kill infected animals within just a few days. Mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk, and pronghorn also are susceptible to EHD, but it’s particularly damaging to whitetail herds, according to animal health experts.
