Disease hitting Wabash Valley deer

VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - A drought-related disease is killing Indiana's deer population.

For Indiana deer hunters, bow season starts October 1.

But Epizootic hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) could impact what outdoorsmen bring home. EHD is a viral disease that is often fatal. Hunters simply refer to it as blue tongue.

Hunter Lisa Meheny comes from a long line of hunters. She prepares year-round for bow-hunting season. But even with this spreading disease, for Lisa, it's business as usual.

"I don't really prepare any differently than I would in a year that we don't see blue tongue. Experienced hunters know what a healthy animal looks like compared to a non-healthy animal,” said Meheny.

EHD outbreaks have been recorded in 17 counties across Indiana.. including right here in the Wabash Valley.

Deer with EHD suffer from high fever and exhaustion, which is why the ones that are sick are generally found near bodies of water. Deer will also have blue-tinged membrane around the eyes and mouth.

"They naturally seek out water sources. and that's why a lot of time you find animals that have had blue tongue and have died of it, they're typically along water sources,” said Meheny.

Midge flies spread EHD from deer to deer and with the hot dry summer, experts say midges will thrive until a good frost kills them off.

DNR reports humans aren’t impacted by EHD through handling or eating venison of the affected deer.

"I still go out with the same mental awareness that I would any other year. I want to harvest animals that are as healthy as I can find,” said Meheny.

For more information about hunting and EHD, head to the DNR’s website .