Monday, August 16, 2010

ILLINOIS NEWS: Deer Dropping Dead in Chicago Suburbs

A deadly deer disease is causing problems in Chicago's south suburbs where residents are finding dead or dying deer in their backyards and in nearby forest preserves.

Officials with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources say more than 30 deer have been discovered to be dying from an insect-born virus known as EHD, or epizootic hemorrhagic disease. The department began monitoring the situation near Crete late last month.

Some residents have found deer frothing at the mouth, approaching homes and humans, and dying near creeks. Those are all signs of EHD.

Crete resident David Green calls the situation "scary" and describes the smell as "horrendous."

The last major outbreak of EHD in Illinois in 2007 killed 1,900 deer in 57 counties.

Source: Chicago Tribune

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