OutdoorHub: Can You Identify These Deer Parasites?
OutdoorHub: Can You Identify These Deer Parasites?
Warning, the images you are about to see may disgust you.
Warning, the images you are about to see may disgust you.
For the most part, signs of this parasite in deer are hard to spot. Some biologists have reported neurological symptoms after infection. This can include spasms, walking aimlessly in circles, and other bizarre behavior. In elk, this parasite can cause death.
This parasite causes the condition known as "lumpy jaw." This is due to the fact that the parasite blocks the blood from going to the animal's jaw, making it hard for the poor deer to chew.
Deer get these disgusting parasites from passing flies, which inject hatched larvae directly into the nose of the host. The larvae, which can number several dozen, then move to the base of the deer’s tongue and either side of the throat, where they congregate in clusters.
These parasites can cause a buildup of mucus in the respiratory tract that block airflow, making it difficult for an infected animal to breathe. Fawns are especially vulnerable to infection and in unmanaged deer herds, this parasite can be a significant source of mortality. Common symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and significant weight loss.
This protozoa causes cysts to form in deer but are generally harmless, waiting its time out until a deer is eaten by a predator, where it then completes its life cycle.
These flat, oval-shaped worms reside in a deer's liver. They are usually benign, although sometimes they can cause liver damage and in other animals besides deer, they can also result in death.
These slender, white parasites vary from 5 to 10 inches in length. They are relatively common among younger deer and usually are not harmful. Hunters can find them within the animal's abdominal cavity.