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Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Fibromyosis In Deer

Here is a blog I prepared for Mother Earth News but the system doesn't seem to be working so I have given up and will post it here:

A few days ago we had a deer just outside our back door that looked horrible (see photo). I obtained a few photos of him and readers will see what the problem is from viewing the photo. Since it is a wild animal it is hard to get any closer or have them hold still while you examine them. Thanks to some very good friends who viewed the photo and did some research we have learned that this is fibromyosis. I have found two web sites that go into more detail regarding this disease and they are listed under references. The data states it is non life threatening to deer and occurs infrequently. Up close it looks pretty gross and the deer in the photo had large sacs hanging off it plus a raw wound on near its haunch that was approximately 6-8 inches in diameter and appeared to be raw and bleeding.

None of the reports I have read on fibromyosis actually had very much detailed information on the disease and stated its origin was unknown or possibly caused by insect bites or a virus. The last time I observed it on deer and elk was approximately 6 years ago when our community was spraying 2-4-D Amine 4 to kill Canada thistle. At that time I would see community volunteers spraying meadow areas and sometimes within 2-3 hours following the spraying the deer would be browsing in the same area eating the sprayed weeds. I had speculated at that time that their skin condition may have had something to do with consuming 2-4-D Amine 4, but had no proof the spraying was in any way connected  with fibromyosis lesions and growths on the animals. I just assumed this because I had not seen animals in this condition before they started spraying weeds on our community’s 4000 acres of common land. Furthermore I could not locate any reports that indicated any connection between spraying herbicides and the condition I observed on their bodies. This appears on the deer like warts on humans but appears far more severe with sacs hanging off the animal and open raw sores.

After seeing this deer in this condition I checked to see if any spraying was taking place locally. I found that an adjoining community to the one in which we reside has been spraying noxious weeds with glyphosate or Roundup. Animals wander between our adjoining communities daily and having not seen fibermyosis on deer since the last episode of herbicide spraying I found this to be quite the coincidence and wondered again if there was any possible connection between spraying herbicides and the skin issue on this deer. If any readers have noticed a similar connection or have seen any study regarding the etiology please post in the  comment section that reference study.

It seems to me that spraying noxious weeds presents a conundrum of sorts. The state Department of Agriculture (DOA) mandates the killing of certain noxious weeds and the preferred method is spraying them with a herbicide. If the reports I have read wherein several herbicides are clearly toxic to humans and domestic pets it can only be assumed that they are equally toxic to deer and elk. Whether the herbicides would cause this particular disease in deer and elk has apparently not yet been positively determined. If it takes many years for these studies to surface relating herbicide spraying to human health conditions it may take decades for a wild animal study to determine if the herbicides are connected to fibromyosis or not; Coupled with the fact that wild animals are not willing volunteers or participants in any such study. Also wild animal studies are not funded as well as human studies. It would however be prudent to err on the side and caution and stop spraying herbicides in deer and elk habitat. Since there is presently no scientific study that connects the two it is unlikely that will happen.


The studies I have read on this disease stated that this disease doesn’t seem to bother the animal nor does it affect the meat or internal organs. Hunters can safely eat the meat of these animals that they kill. They don’t think that the disease is transferable to domestic pets or humans but can‘t state absolutely that it won‘t happen. The reports on this ailment seem non-specific as to cause and treatment. I also don’t see how those reports can indicate that an animal isn’t bothered by these sacs hanging off it and open raw wounds. Some of these areas may be like large warts but others would appear troublesome to the animal from what I observed.

I find the fact that the only two times I have observed this condition were the two times herbicide sprays have been used and it may only be totally coincidence or non related. When I looked at this deer it is hard to believe that this condition does not irritate the animal in some manner. There may be absolutely no connection between spraying herbicides and fibromyosis but if on the other hand there is a connection perhaps more care could be exercised to resolve the disease. If per chance we humans are causing this it is my opinion that we should rethink our approach toward killing weeds with herbicide sprays especially in wild animals habitat or where deer and elk browse.


4 comments:

Patricia said...

Bruce - just saw a new study by the World Health Organization that indicates that this pesticide is "possibly carcinogenic" to humans.
Link to article http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/who-unit-finds-24-d-herbicide-possibly-causes-cancer-in-humans/ar-AAbYBtV

Personally, I think the welfare of wildlife, and of course human beings, is much more important than an "invasive plant." Hopefully the Forbes Park people will take note and stop using this chemical immediately!

Bruce said...

Pat: I have read other studies that confirm that 2,4,D Amine 4 is carcinogenic and cause cancer plus interferes with reproduction. Our assoc is not spraying toxic herbicides any longer and is searching for an alternative that is safe all around.

Anonymous said...

I don't see the references you mentioned with the two websites. Where would I find those?

Bruce said...

The system was having trouble when trying to post this and they were not included. Here they are Anonymous. One is from Oregon and one from Michigan.
http://1.usa.gov/1xt1jYo
http://bit.ly/1fdFTdN