||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR |||
Spring Point residents were surprised and shocked to learn that up to a dozen dead deer were discovered throughout the area within the last couple of days. Area residents took to email to share the news.
A report has been filed with the Sheriff’s Department and it has reportedly been “kicked up the chain” to the Undersheriff. However, Sheriff’s Dispatch advises theOrcasonian that the Undersheriff is off today. There is no indication that a deputy has responded to the area to investigate.
None of the deer seem to have visible injuries, but evidence of bleeding from the nose and the mouth has been observed, leading residents to suspect a poisoning.
Meanwhile the community is on alert for an unknown, unidentified cause, with many folks vigilant and watchful as they become concerned about their community water source. Until this is investigated, there are many, many unanswered questions and a high level of concern.
We will stay on the story and provide updates where possible.
FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION: theorcasonian.com/sheriffs-office-investigation-indicates-spring-point-deer-died-from-common-fertilizers/
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The bleeding is consistent with poisoning by warfarin, a common ingredient in rat poison.
This article vaguely suggests Spring Point residents are concerned about our water supply. This has nothing to do with our water supply and the only concern I have heard voiced is that we should be vigilant to make sure no dead deer might have fallen into the pond that supplies our water. Deer do not hang around our pond. Although we always want to be vigilant, we also understand it is extremely unlikely any deer will fall into our water.
Wondering if the island can ban warfarin. It’s been done in other places. Horrible for our biodiversity. There are other ways to deter rodents. The deer population-yes-larger than life here-are facing really daunting obstacles. Look at all the fences going up-being fenced out of their water supply. In my past ‘hood which was further along in ruining the balance of habitat than we are here but we’re gaining ground-it was so hard to see the deer wandering around looking for water, parched and gaunt. Can we get ahead of that curve somehow?
Birth control. Inbreeding in the Doe Bay area is yielding some weird-looking fawns, who ultimately do not thrive.
Should anyone encounter a “fresh” (within 24hour) dead deer, please contact San Juan County Environmental Resources Division (Kendra Smith) or Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (Matt Hamer). WDFW is investigating the possibility of a virus that hit deer in the Gulf Islands, may have migrated here.
In response to reports of a possible similarity to last Fall’s Gulf Islands incident:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-disease-suspected-to-have-killed-over-60-deer-on-b-c-s-gulf-islands-1.5748622
Third dead deer in the last five days on my small property near Spring Pt in Deer Harbor this morning. The sheriff’s office never heard of it when we called them… Fish & Wildlife is nothing but “leave a message, we’re all working from home”. I strongly suspect that this is adenovirus hemorrhagic disease (AHD). Deadly contagious diseases are what happens to any population that grows beyond the sustainable carrying capacity of their environment. Hmmm – that sort of sounds familiar for some reason…
Now I’m wondering if the dead deer I found 2 weeks ago by the creek bank here might have died from the same thing. There is a ‘stranded (deceased) mammal’ 800 number I was told to call when I found the dead harbor seal in Westsound. I am going to call them today.