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Disease is Killing Illinois Deer

White-tailed deer in Illinois are experiencing a disease that’s killed more 430 animals this year as of Oct 29.

It’s called Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease or EHD, and it appears to be most prevalent in counties along the Illinois River with identified cases stretching from Southwest Bureau County to Schuyler County.

The greatest number of cases are in Peoria and Fulton Counties, with 77 and 71 deers testing positive respectively for the disease affected so far this year.

The disease does not affect humans, but causes fever and hemorrhaging in deer.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is asking landowners, hunters and other concerned citizens to be on the lookout for dead or dying deer, and to report suspected EHD cases to their local IDNR field office.