The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced on September 9 that it has confirmed epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in free-ranging white-tailed deer from Branch, Ingham, Jackson and Lenawee counties. These were Michigan’s first confirmed cases of 2026. The DNR’s Wildlife Health Section and the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed them. Macomb County was not on that initial list. The DNR posts additional county detections on its EHD webpage as test results come in.
What EHD is and how it spreads
EHD is a viral disease that shows up periodically in Michigan’s deer herd and is sometimes fatal. Small biting flies called midges carry it. Deer cannot pass the virus directly to one another, because it has to travel through the insect. Cases typically appear in late summer and early fall. Outbreaks tend to be worse when a wet spring is followed by a hot, dry summer. The first hard frost kills off the midges and ends transmission for the year.
According to the DNR, there is no evidence that people, pets or other Michigan wildlife can contract EHD. Venison from affected areas is considered safe to eat. The DNR’s deer management specialist, Brent Rudolph, said hunters should still avoid eating any animal that appears visibly sick. He also noted that early-season activity looked similar to 2025 levels.
Signs to watch for
Infected deer run a high fever and become dehydrated. As a result, sick or dead deer are often found in or near water. Other signs include:
- lethargy, disorientation, lameness or unresponsiveness
- bloody discharge from the nose or mouth
- a swollen or bluish tongue
- swelling around the eyelids, head or neck
Other illnesses and injuries can cause similar symptoms. Only laboratory testing can confirm EHD.
Why it matters for conservation
Statewide, EHD has not been shown to reduce Michigan’s deer population over the long term. Not every deer in an outbreak area gets infected, and not every infected deer dies. Locally, though, losses can be heavy, and a hard-hit area may take a few years to recover. The worst year on record was 2012, when outbreaks reached roughly 30 counties.
DNR wildlife veterinarian Dr. Scott Larsen pointed to two trends worth watching:
- Changing conditions. Michigan’s warmer, wetter weather is creating better conditions for both the virus and the midges that carry it.
- A newer strain. A different strain of the virus has appeared in the region in recent years. Immunity to one strain doesn’t necessarily protect against another, which makes it harder for herds to build resistance.
For anyone who cares about healthy deer herds over the long term, EHD is a reminder that disease, weather and habitat are all connected.
How hunters and landowners can help
Hunters and landowners spend more time in the field than almost anyone, which makes them some of the DNR’s most valuable observers. If you find a deer you suspect is sick with or died from EHD, report it through the DNR’s Eyes in the Field system using the diseased wildlife report. Once EHD is confirmed in a county, the DNR no longer needs to test more deer from that county. It still asks people to keep reporting suspected cases, because those reports show how far an outbreak has spread.
With frost arriving across the state, this year’s transmission season is winding down. What you notice during deer season can still help biologists understand how the herd came through the year. Pay attention in the woods, report what you find, and pass on any deer that looks unhealthy.
For more information, see the DNR’s original announcement and its EHD resource page.