||| FROM ZAC REIMER, SAN JUAN COUNTY UNDERSHERIFF |||
On Sunday, May 9, 2021 a Deputy on Orcas island responded to a report of several deceased deer in the area of Spring Point Rd. It was reported that there had been approximately 10 deceased deer in the area over the last week. No obvious injuries were observed on the deer, but a white froth was seen on the nose and mouth of some of the deer.
Washington State Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) was contacted they explained that it was likely that the deer were exposed to common fertilizers or other yard care sprays. This occurs after citizens apply the fertilizer or spray to their yard and the deer ingest the chemicals. There have been similar cases of this around the state and seems to come up around this time of year according to WDFW.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to use care and apply chemicals as directed if they need to administer them on their property. This is to help ensure the safety of our local wildlife along with our children and domestic animals.
The Sheriff’s Office will continue to work with WDFW on this issue. We would encourage the public to promptly report incidents of multiple cases of deceased wildlife to the Sheriff’s Office at 360-378-4151.
PREVIOUS REPORT: theorcasonian.com/at-least-a-dozen-dead-deer-have-been-found-in-spring-point-area/
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To my knowledge no autopsy has been performed; across Spring Point and surrounding areas we have found at least 15 deceased deer. No source of fertilizer use has been identified. While the advice regarding caution with fertilizer use is well taken, we have no evidence this is the cause of these deer deaths.
I would welcome an autopsy, if only to rule out the possibility of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, which was found in cows in Whatcom in Oct. 2019, and in deer in the southern Gulf Islands October of last year.
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
According to WDFW staff, they were able to have a vet conduct a necropsy yesterday (Tuesday), and are waiting on those lab results. If you come across a very fresh carcass WDFW would be interested in necropsying it.