Blue Tongue Disease affects Mule Deer
Mule deer around the Big Horn basin in Wyoming have been hurt by a mig-borne virus. Lesions seen in the current outbreak include inflammation of the feet, crusting around the nose and mouth, and swollen lips. Bluetongue’s distinctive name is due to blue discoloration of the mouth and lips of infected animals.
Once an animal is infected, they tend not to eat due to soreness of the mouth. The no-see-um gnats that carry the disease live in and around stagnant water, therefore, drought or hot conditions aggrevate the spread of the disease. Fortunately, frost kills the little buggars.
