Dying, at the edge of a river bed, looking for water to quench your thirst and lower your temperature, a corpse a little further away… This is the image that many breeders encountered when leaving in the countryside. And it is not that of their animals, but that of the deer who did not manage to escape the bite of the culicoid mosquito. This vector which transmits the Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHE)) and that, above all, last year it caused havoc in the cattle herd, which was also not spared this summer – although with less impact – by what is known as ‘covid-covid’. In reality, a viral pathology which affects deer, historically more typical in North America, Australia, Asia and Africa, but which at the end of 2022 took the plunge in Europe, and of which these ungulates have not either been spared. Already in 2023, cases have also occurred in Castile and León in wildlife, although that is when voices of “concern” were raised, especially in the province of Zamora – in the areas of Sanabria, Aliste and La Carballeda where it is claimed that hunters. found “many” deer dead from this pathology.
From the Ministry of EnvironmentThey admit to having collected “80” corpses from wildlife. in Castile and León, although according to analyzes carried out at the Regional Animal Health Laboratory of León, only 28 tested positive for EHE, Zamora and León being the provinces with the most cases: 10 each. In addition to six others in Soria and none in Ávila, Salamanca, Segovia and Valladolid.
“The development is favorable”, declares Ignacio de la Fuente, head of the Hunting and Fishing department, who emphasizes that with the drop in temperatures and the lesser presence of mosquitoes “the prevalence has dropped significantly”. However, he insists, it is a disease “which affects Spanish soil much more”. Because? “Fortunately, in Castile and León there are no large concentrations” of deer. “Quality and not quantity prevails” of the animals, he emphasizes, although it is true that over the last 20 years the presence of these ungulates has increased and spread in territories where it was previously more difficult to see them. And “the worst tool for surviving disease is to stop hunting.” “Good hunting management” is essential, while recognizing that they are finalizing a wildlife management plan. deer have an animal census and establish management criteria that allow for “reduction” where there are overpopulations.
Another key to this lower incidence in Castile and León, he emphasizes, is that here they have a “fairly favorable” diet that allows specimens to face the disease in better conditions. Despite everything, there have been cases of pathologies where one of the common symptoms is fever. Therefore, it is common to find affected specimens near areas containing water. This is why they emphasize Environmenthave contacted the Duero Hydrographic Confederation (CHD) and the hydroelectric companies that own the reservoirs “so that they immediately remove” the animals they find and even more so if they are swamps intended for consumption. Although, according to De la Fuente, the EHE It is not a contagious disease between animals or humans.s. In addition, scavenger birds “do their job” and can leave the victim in the bones in a few hours.
But not only among breeders, but also among hunters, “there is a lot of concern” about the impact of a pathology unknown until recently. “These are frightening data,” recognizes David Pascual, president of the Federation of Hunting From Zamora, the “rumors” circulating in this province, in which there is talk of up to 150 corpses, are heard. The official figures of those analyzed show ten positive points.
