JACKSON COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s deer herd is once again being hit by a deadly disease, and reports coming from the field suggest some areas are already seeing disturbing numbers of dead white-tailed deer.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has confirmed epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in free-ranging deer in Branch, Ingham, Jackson and Lenawee counties. The cases were confirmed by the DNR Wildlife Health Section and Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. And Jackson County appears to be taking the biggest hit so far.
Dozens of Dead Deer Along the River
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A field report provided to Michigan News Source paints a grim picture.
A Jackson County hunter said acquaintances kayaking from a campground near Swains Lake toward Concord counted approximately 70 dead deer along the riverbanks in a single trip, with only three reportedly being does. The same report described a “huge die-off” around Vandercook Lake in Summit Township and said DNR personnel had been walking the swamp in that area.
The account has not been independently verified by Michigan News Source, and individual deer deaths cannot be attributed to EHD without testing. But the report is consistent with the geographic concentration the DNR itself is seeing.
The agency told Michigan News Source that approximately 300 deer mortalities consistent with EHD were reported in August, with the majority coming from Jackson County.
Unfortunately, It Could Get Worse
EHD is spread by infected biting midges (biting flies) rather than directly from deer to deer. Infected animals develop high fevers and dehydration and often head toward ponds, rivers and other water sources, explaining why clusters of dead deer are frequently discovered near water. The disease can cause lethargy, disorientation and lameness, as well as bloody discharge, swelling and a blue-tinged tongue.
The DNR says there is no evidence that humans, household pets or other Michigan wildlife can contract the EHD virus. And although they say venison harvested in areas affected by EHD is safe for consumption, they don’t recommend consuming any animals that are visibly sick.
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Michigan may not have reached the worst of the 2026 outbreak, however. The DNR says September and October typically produce the most reports, and officials expect numbers to continue climbing until freezing temperatures kill the midges responsible for transmission.
How Does 2026 Compare?
Michigan has been through two significant EHD years already. The DNR says there were more than 4,200 reported deer mortalities in 2024 and more than 2,700 in 2025. So far, the DNR says EHD activity in 2026 is running at levels similar to 2025. But with the peak reporting months just beginning, the final toll remains unknown.
Although State Wildlife Veterinarian R. Scott Larsen told Michigan News Source that the DNR hasn’t seen any long-term population effects from EHD, the “sudden and pronounced loss of deer to EHD outbreaks can be upsetting.”
Hunters and residents who encounter sick or dead deer are being asked to report them through the DNR’s Eyes in the Field system so officials can track the outbreak.
