The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has launched an online tool for hunters and landowners to report dead deer affected by hemorrhagic disease, also known as EHD or Bluetongue. This initiative aims to improve tracking and understanding of the disease’s impact on Iowa’s deer population. Hemorrhagic disease outbreaks are frequent in recent years, including 2012, 2013, 2019, and 2023. The new reporting tool, along with an annual dashboard, is accessible on the Deer Hunting and Deer Health webpage at www.iowadnr.gov/deer. Staff notes hemorrhagic disease generally occurs between July and September, though it can extend later during unseasonably warm weather. Indicators include multiple deer carcasses, often found near water sources. The severity of outbreaks varies annually, with no effective treatment or prevention available for wild deer. While deer populations typically recover to near-normal levels within two to three years, counties with already low or declining deer numbers may require additional management to aid recovery. Reporting these cases helps the DNR manage and sustain healthy deer populations across the state.
