Wildlife diseases

What if I see sick-looking wildlife while scouting or hunting?
The DNR encourages you to report any sightings of sick or dead wildlife at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField. You should provide information about the location, number and condition of the animals you observed. Contact the DNR Wildlife Health Section at 517-336-5030 if you have any questions.

Bovine tuberculosis

What is bovine tuberculosis?
Bovine tuberculosis is a highly infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium bovis. It primarily affects the respiratory system and can infect most mammals. While human and avian TB have limited transmission to animals, bovine TB can spread to various mammals. In Michigan, there is a core area in the northeastern part of the Lower Peninsula where bovine TB is more common among white-tailed deer and other animals. The disease spreads when infected and uninfected animals come into close contact, through respiratory secretions and sometimes contaminated feed. Bovine TB develops slowly over years, starting in the lymph nodes and progressing to lung and chest cavity lesions. It is a significant challenge for managing livestock and wildlife. Preventive measures and understanding the disease’s transmission and development are important for control and protection.

Can deer contract bovine TB?
Yes. Bovine TB is an infectious disease that primarily affects cattle; however, other animals may become infected. Bovine TB has been detected in Michigan deer every year since 1994. To explore a potential new tool to help eradicate the disease, an approved field trial investigating feasibility of vaccination took place in early 2024. Deer harvested in Alpena County from Green West, Green East, Wilson West, Wilson East, and Ossineke West townships may have consumed a safe oral bovine TB vaccine as part of an approved field trial. Visit Michigan.gov/BovineTB to learn more.

Does the DNR test deer for bovine TB?
Yes. The DNR works in partnership with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish surveillance goals in order to detect changes in the occurrence of bovine TB in free-ranging white-tailed deer. While deer heads are accepted statewide for bovine TB testing, active surveillance is taking place in Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle and Roscommon counties. Testing deer from these counties is critical to meeting our goals and managing the disease in deer and cattle. If you observe bovine TB-like lesions in the chest cavity of any deer, the entire carcass should be submitted for testing.

Go to Michigan.gov/DeerCheck to find check station and drop-box locations and learn how to submit your deer for testing. To learn more about bovine TB in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/BovineTB. You can check your deer TB lab results at Michigan.gov/DNRLab.

Chronic wasting disease

What is chronic wasting disease?
Chronic wasting disease is a contagious, neurological disease that impacts the nervous system of deer, elk and moose. It causes the brain of infected animals to deteriorate in a distinctive spongy manner, leading to weight loss, unusual actions, loss of body functions and death. The infectious agents responsible for CWD are not classified as either bacteria or viruses, but rather as prions. Prions are proteins that are believed to be capable of causing infections, even though they lack the nucleic acids usually found in infectious agents.

Can deer contract CWD?
Yes. CWD has been detected in Michigan deer. Since the initial finding of CWD on May 20, 2015, free-ranging deer in Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Midland, Montcalm and Ogemaw counties have been positively confirmed with CWD. Visit Michigan.gov/CWD for more information on CWD and the latest news and testing updates. Any deer seen acting abnormally should be reported to the Michigan DNR.

Can I get my deer tested for CWD?
CWD testing will be available on a limited basis for areas with active surveillance goals. For 2024, active CWD surveillance areas include Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Benzie, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Dickinson, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Iosco, Kalkaska, Keweenaw, Leelanau, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Otsego and Schoolcraft counties. Carcasses from deer with CWD-like symptoms will be accepted statewide, year-round. Please be aware that test results may take at least one month to receive. Once they are available, testing results will be posted at Michigan.gov/DNRLab. For all other areas, hunters who wish to have their deer tested for CWD can submit it to partnering U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved laboratories for a fee. Visit Michigan.gov/CWD and click on “Get my deer tested” for instructions.

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease

What is epizootic hemorrhagic disease?
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease is an acute, infectious, often fatal disease contracted by wild ruminants but most commonly affecting white-tailed deer. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/EHD.

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