‘Zombie deer’ cases sighted in Cincinnati, Indiana

Cincinnati – They are not trick-or-treating or trying to eat live meat, but so-called “zombie deer” have been seen in Coleraine and other parts of Cincinnati, with cases also reported in Indiana Huh.

Police officials in Coleren Township said they had received information about one such deer earlier in the week. When they approached the deer along Blue Rock Road, officers said he was standing there, staring away. It was marred by sirens or shouts of officers and what appeared to be strange patches of fur, along with discolored skin.

A warden with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources told Coleraine officials that Cincinnati’s west side has been “hitting hard lately” with deer, which suffer from epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). The Indiana Department of Natural Resources also announced that cases of EHD have been observed in Indiana.

The disease, which does not affect humans and does not pose a serious risk to livestock, comes with symptoms such as disorientation and lack of fear of humans.

Deer with this disease may have a fever, obvious swelling of their head, neck, tongue and eyelids, and may show weakness, dizziness and other strange neurological symptoms.

The disease is caused by a virus that worsens less than 24 hours after the deer dies and cannot spread after death.

EHD is common in the United States – it kills deer every year, although some recover. Cases usually peak in late summer and early fall, but fall after the first frost, when the biting gnats that produce it – called midge fly – become much less in number.

Anyone who sees a deer suffering from EHD can report the incident on the ODNR website. In Indiana, you can report a suspicious case to IDNR.