Deadly Virus Outbreak Affecting Deer In Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Monday confirmed outbreaks of a deadly virus among deer in several northern California counties, including Sonoma, and is asking California residents to help curb the spread by not feeding wild animals, and by reporting potential cases to the department.

“Providing attractants for deer – food, salt licks or even water – is against the law for good reason,” said Dr. Brandon Munk, senior wildlife veterinarian with CDFW’s Wildlife Investigations Laboratory. “Because these artificial attractants can congregate animals and promote the spread of disease, it’s particularly imperative to leave wildlife alone during an outbreak. There is no cure or vaccine for this disease, so our best management strategies right now are to track it carefully, and to take preventative measures to limit the spread.”

CDFW said it began receiving increased reports in May of mortality in deer, both free-ranging and at fawn rehabilitation facilities. With the assistance of wildlife rehabilitation facilities and the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, CDFW confirmed cervid adenovirus 1 —CdAdV-1 — as the cause of hemorrhagic disease outbreaks in Napa, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Tehama and Yolo counties.

CdAdV-1 — the cause of a 1993-1994 outbreak of hemorrhagic disease in black tailed deer and mule deer that spanned at least 18 California counties — is typically fatal to deer and can be spread by animals in close contact with each other.

The virus is not known to affect people, pets or domestic livestock.

Since the outbreak in the 1990s, CdAdV-1 has been identified as the cause of sporadic, often widespread, outbreaks of hemorrhagic disease in California and other western states.

State wildlife officials say deer fawns are at greatest risk, with high rates of mortality following infection. Yearlings and adult deer are more resistant but deaths do occur in those age groups.

Outbreaks of the virus can be widespread and have significant impact on affected deer populations. Affected deer are often found dead without any obvious symptoms. They may be found near water. Sick animals may have excessive salivation (drooling or foaming at the mouth), diarrhea, regurgitation or seizures, state officials said.

"In addition to removing food and other attractants, Californians can help wildlife veterinarians track and study the disease by reporting sightings of sick or dead deer," CDFW Spokeswoman Kirsten Macintyre said.

"Anyone who observes a deer exhibiting symptoms, or encountering a deer that has died from unknown causes, can submit the information to CDFW through the department’s online mortality reporting system," Macintyre said.