Ten deer found dead along Black River; DEC confirms bluetongue in one sample

Ten deer were found dead earlier this month along the Black River between Carthage and Lowville, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said one sample tested positive for bluetongue virus. The finding matters because bluetongue and the related epizootic hemorrhagic disease can kill deer during the warmer months, although the viruses do not affect people or pets, according to DEC.

What DEC found

The DEC said one sample from the deer tested positive for bluetongue virus. The agency has not characterized the deaths as a human or pet health threat. Bluetongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease are spread by infected biting midges, small insects sometimes called no-see-ums.

The diseases typically spread in late summer and early fall. The first hard frost kills the midges and ends transmission, according to DEC. Deer can sometimes survive an infection, while other deer may die within several days of becoming sick.

The middle section of the Black River runs about 40 miles from Lyons Falls to Carthage and is used for fishing and canoeing. The deer were found along the river between Carthage and Lowville, an area that includes portions of the Black River corridor in Lewis and Jefferson counties.

Cornell wildlife disease ecologist Krysten Schuler said the deaths do not represent an outbreak, although finding multiple dead deer can be alarming. The DEC's wildlife-health information says the viruses are not known to affect humans or pets.

A recurring seasonal disease

Bluetongue was first confirmed in New York deer in September 2022, when three deer in Southampton, Suffolk County, tested positive, according to a DEC release. DEC received more than 2,000 reports of dead deer in 2021, mainly in Ulster, Dutchess, Columbia, Oswego and Jefferson counties.

DEC's outbreak table for 2021 lists Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties among the affected counties. Lewis County does not appear in that table. The disease activity is associated with the period before a hard frost ends the midges' transmission cycle.

The finding is relevant to residents who spend time along the Black River and other wooded or wet areas in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, including people fishing, canoeing, hunting or walking near the water. DEC advises against harvesting or eating a deer that appears sick.

How to report deer

People who see sick or dead deer can submit a report through the DEC's online EHD reporting form or contact the nearest DEC regional wildlife office. Reports help the agency track disease activity and determine where additional testing may be needed.

DEC's information about the diseases, symptoms and reporting options is available on its wildlife-health page. Transmission generally ends after the first hard frost kills the midges, but residents should continue reporting sick or dead deer while seasonal disease activity is possible.