Deer Disease Information

Deer Tuberculosis Monitoring

Due to the spread of tuberculosis in deer in Michigan and Minnesota, and the discovery of bovine TB in captive cervid facilities and a cattle farm in Indiana, the Indiana DNR and Board of Animal Health (BOAH) are monitoring Indiana’s deer herd for signs of the disease.

No wild white-tailed deer have tested positive for bovine TB in Indiana.

You can help with this effort to protect Indiana’s domestic and wild animal populations by helping to verify that Hoosier deer continue to be disease free.

Inspect your deer

1. While field dressing a deer, look for white, tan or red blister-like or pus-filled, abscess-like sores (lesions) on internal organs or inside of the carcass. Lesions may be found on the lungs, inside the rib cage, the liver, the lymph nodes or occasionally other organs inside the carcass. In the unlikely event you see lesions, exercise caution in handling the animal.
2. Do not proceed with further processing until the carcass is examined by a State BOAH veterinarian. Refrigerate (or ice down) the carcass if possible.
3. Keep the animal, including the head, intact until examined.

To contact a BOAH veterinarian, call (877) 747-3038 (toll free). This number is answered 8 a.m to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Messages left on weekends or holidays will be returned as soon as possible.

A BOAH veterinarian will advise, free-of-charge, about the appropriate use of the animal and may collect tissue samples for further testing. Reporting any suspicious lesion helps protect the health status of Indiana’s white-tailed deer resource.

If a veterinarian asks a hunter to submit a deer for further testing, the DNR will replace the hunter’s permanent/temporary deer tag to revalidate an existing license.

After field dressing or handling any carcass or other raw meat, wash your hands with soap and water. Hand washing removes disease-causing bacteria, including tuberculosis. This practice should always be followed, even if the animal appears healthy.

For more information on Indiana’s deer TB monitoring program, contact BOAH:

Toll-free phone: (877) 747-3038

E-mail: animalhealth@boah.IN.gov

Web page: IN.gov/boah

Mail: Board of Animal Health
Discovery Hall, Suite 100
1202 East 38th St
Indianapolis, IN 46205-2898

Chronic Wasting Disease and Out-of-State Deer, Elk and Moose

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a neurological disease found in deer, elk, and moose. It belongs to a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) or prion diseases. CWD is always fatal, and is spread through direct (animal to animal contact) and indirect (soil to animal) means. It is thought that the most common mode of transmission is through saliva or urine.

Although CWD is similar to mad cow disease in cattle and scrapie in sheep, there is no known relationship between CWD and other TSEs found in humans. There is currently no evidence that CWD is transmissible to humans, though it is not recommended to consume meat from a deer that is known CWD positive. As of 2011, CWD has not been found in Indiana.

Because CWD has been transmitted in experiments where healthy deer were exposed to skeletons of infected deer, bringing into Indiana the carcasses and/or parts of deer and other cervids harvested out-of-state is strictly limited by BOAH. Only the following may be brought into Indiana:

• Commercially processed meat, which may contain bone
• Carcasses or parts of carcasses if no portion of the head, spinal cord or small intestine are attached or otherwise included
• Carcasses or parts of carcasses that include the head, spinal cord or small intestine, if they are delivered within 72 hours after entry to one of the following:
  • A meat processor inspected by BOAH for processing
  • A commercial deer processor registered with the DNR for processing
  • A taxidermist licensed by the DNR
• Antlers, including antlers attached to skull caps, if the skull cap is cleaned of all brain and muscle tissue
• Hides
• Upper canine teeth, also known as “buglers,” “whistlers,” or “ivories”
• Finished taxidermist mounts

A person licensed as a disposal plant or collection service under state law (Indiana Code 15-2.1-16) may move carcasses and parts into the state if the carcasses and parts are moved directly to a licensed disposal plant.

For up-to-date information on CWD and the state’s prevention and monitoring program visit wildlife.IN.gov.

Wild Hogs

Populations of wild (or feral, free-ranging) swine have been a problem in pockets around the state. In addition to being a disease/predatory threat to Indiana livestock and poultry production, they are known to cause damage to crops and native plants and are detrimental to native wildlife and habitats.

A person can take a wild hog at anytime without a permit from the DNR. Permission must be obtained from the landowner.

As part of a risk assessment program, BOAH asks hunters who spot or take a wild hog to report the animal to the agency. Reports help BOAH and DNR determine if additional census, disease monitoring and/or control steps are necessary.

Anyone who sees or takes a wild hog should call BOAH at (877) 747-3038 or email animalhealth@boah.IN.gov to report the approximate location, number, sex and estimated size of the animal(s).