Central Washington deer fight lice problem

[bobcat]

Central Washington deer fight lice problem

The Associated Press • Published February 15, 2009

ELLENSBURG – State wildlife officials estimate about 50 percent of the deer population in two central Washington counties has been lost since 2004, and while all the causes aren't known, at least one is believed to be lice.

Officials in Yakima and Kittitas began receiving reports about black-tailed and mule deer with hair loss syndrome in 2002. The deer population began declining in 2004.

At first, the type of lice causing the deer to lose hair was thought to be one of several native species already found in wild deer populations in the United States.

But test samples showed that the type of lice causing the problem — Bovicola tibialis — typically is found only on European fallow deer, which had been farmed in central Washington. According to reports by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, some of those deer may have escaped, inadvertently introducing the lice into the local environment.

Game farms have since been banned in Washington, though several existing ones have been allowed to continue operating.

"This is a new situation in Eastern Washington," said James Mertins, an entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture who was the first to discover the exotic lice species had invaded the area.

The chewing lice cause deer to begin obsessively grooming or rubbing. Bald patches then begin to appear, which make the deer more susceptible to environmental stresses.

One reason the lice species may be thriving, Mertins said, is that it has no females or males and everyone can lay eggs. That means the species populates very quickly.

Only about a half-dozen species worldwide reproduce that way, Mertins said.

"This is sort of a worst-case scenario," he said.

David Darda, associate dean of biological sciences at Central Washington University, said the native deer's ability to overcome this infestation will depend heavily on its genetic diversity.

"If you've got a decent genetic variety, you may have a large die-off initially, but as time goes by the variety can improve the deer's ability to fight," Darda said. "It'll be interesting to see what happens in five years."

[bowhuntin]

I wonder if most of the deer have died off that have this lice. I also read something a while back that said they thought it was going to start spreading into other counties, which I hope doesn't happen. I haven't seen many deer in the Yakima area for a couple years now, but seen more than usual last spring. Hopefully the deer herds will recover from this.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Unfortunately, I saw 4-5 deer in Chelan Co. last year with hair loss.  Along Hwy 97 between Blewett Pass and Hwy 2.

[norsepeak]

There were a lot of them around my house last year, but this year, I haven't seen one with the lice.  The deer all look real healthy this year.

[bowhuntin]

Unfortunately, I saw 4-5 deer in Chelan Co. last year with hair loss.  Along Hwy 97 between Blewett Pass and Hwy 2.

That's not good.

[Antlershed]

I know the lice is a huge deal, but my buddies that elk hunt over that way say that they have seen a big increase in the amount of cougar sign they are seeing over the last few years...

[colockumelk]

I talked to a WDFW official and asked if the herd had taken over a 50% loss then why hasn't it gone to permit only.  If it is that bad then why can we still hunt a herd that is so decimated.  I mentioned that I believe it's because they don't want to lose the revenue and the loss of tags that a permit only for a bit would bring.  He scoffed at me like I was an idiot and said that revenue had nothing to do with it.  That going to permit only wouldn't help out at all.  And yes people these are the same people who are managing our herds.  Makes you wonder huh. 

[bowhuntin]

I talked to a WDFW official and asked if the herd had taken over a 50% loss then why hasn't it gone to permit only.  If it is that bad then why can we still hunt a herd that is so decimated.  I mentioned that I believe it's because they don't want to lose the revenue and the loss of tags that a permit only for a bit would bring.  He scoffed at me like I was an idiot and said that revenue had nothing to do with it.  That going to permit only wouldn't help out at all.  And yes people these are the same people who are managing our herds.  Makes you wonder huh. 

I think revenue is a part of it, but I also think that if you closed an area to a general hunt then you would have a bunch of hunters that need a new place to go and hunt. There would be huge increase of pressure in other parts of the state on the deer herds.

[bowhuntin]

Has anyone else heard that elk can also get this lice?

[bobcat]

I've spent a little time in the Little Naches, and it's rare to see a deer. Seems some of those Yakima units ought to be shut down completely for a while. Course then wouldn't the Yakama's just kill them on their winter range anyway? Probably why they don't want to go to special permit? Isn't that why the Umtanum went back to general season.

[bowhuntin]

I agree, those units need some time to recover and could benefit from being shut down.

[colockumelk]

Crap I forgot this was reality.  In my dreamworld of making it permit only our state was like everyother state where Indians arent allowed free reign off of their reservation.  Your right, if they went to permit only like they did in 342 Umtaneum the Indians would just have more deer to kill. 

I do think that it should still go to permit only. Between the cougars, the lice, and then hunting season they don't stand a chance.  In my opinion if they did do this yes maybe hunters would go somewhere else.  I know I have already.  I don't hunt in Yak or Kitt counties.  And to be honest I don't understand why people still hunt for deer around here.  Finding a legal buck is hard.  I took my wife out to the LT one day during rifle season and we saw two 2x2's that were over 20inches wide.  Although that is another problem unto itself. 

The only poaching I would be okaywith is if someone went around the LT after the season and shot all the big mature two points they could find.  Get them out of the gene pool ASAP. 

[270Shooter]

There are still plenty of legal bucks to go around where I hunt. I know I seen em. In elk season . I didn't get to hunt deer there this year, but I will hunt it this year.

You have to spend a lot of time scouting areas, and once you find a good drainage you really need to get to know it well.

[Elkrunner]

I hunt the Nile and Bethel for elk and used to see a lot of huge bucks and tons of does during the elk hunt.  The last few years, I have been lucky to see a doe.  This all started about 4 years ago and gets worse every year. 

[colockumelk]

There are still plenty of legal bucks to go around where I hunt. I know I seen em. In elk season . I didn't get to hunt deer there this year, but I will hunt it this year.

You have to spend a lot of time scouting areas, and once you find a good drainage you really need to get to know it well.

Or you can do what I do and go to parts of the state that actually has a healthy population of legal bucks.  I took the wife to the Manastash and saw 30 does and two 2x2's that were both over twenty inches wide.  By the looks of their bodies both were about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years old.  Anywhere else those deer would be taken out of the gene pool. 

Also forgot to mention the WDFW guy who is a genius doesn't think that those massive perma 2x2's are just breeding more of the same.  He asked me how I didn't know they weren't 1 or 2 year olds with really good genetics.  That 24 inch 2x2 I saw with a pot belly, gray on his face, swayed back etc was sure as hell no 2 1/2 year old.  Again this is the who is in charge of our deer and elk.  Makes me feel good inside.