Deer Warts Spreading Across the US: Wildlife Experts Warn of Viral Outbreak

According to recent reports, deer across the United States have been developing unusual growths and deformities over the past two months. These so-called "deer warts" have been spotted from New York to Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, and wildlife experts have identified the culprit as a condition known as deer cutaneous fibroma.

The disease is caused by a papillomavirus that is spreading among deer populations nationwide. The virus is primarily transmitted by biting insects, including mosquitoes and ticks, which can pass the infection from an infected deer to a healthy one. The prevalence of the disease tends to increase during the late summer and early fall, when these pests are more active due to the warmer weather.

The deer warts can range greatly in size, from small pea-like bumps to growths as large as a football. They are usually gray, black, or flesh-colored and often hairless. While visually disturbing, the condition is rarely fatal to the deer. In most cases, the deer's immune system eventually clears the virus, and the warts shrink and disappear within a few months. However, in rare instances, if the growths become too large or get infected, they can interfere with the animal's ability to see or eat.

Wildlife experts warn that the reports of deer warts have been increasing this summer, likely due to a combination of climate change and the spread of the virus through insect populations. They urge the public to be vigilant and report any sightings of these unusual deer deformities to local authorities.