by Sebastian A.
Bovine Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that can affect most mammals, and it can be devastating to wild game populations. Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria, and there are three different kinds. These are: human, avian, and bovine. The bovine strand is the most infectious of the three. In Michigan, this form of tuberculosis has had an enormous impact on the whitetail deer population. It was not until 1995 that whitetail deer began being regularly tested for bovine TB. In fact, “[p]rior to 1994, only eight wild white-tailed and mule deer had been reported with bovine TB in North America.” The disease has such a large impact because of its relatively easy transmission from deer to deer. The most common way for bovine TB to spread among the animals is through the exchange of respiratory secretions, so things like saliva and running noses. As a result, dense populations of animals can cause the disease to have a more adverse effect on the herd. Another way that an infected whitetail deer can spread the disease is through coughing or sneezing. Additionally, “[r]esearch suggests that bovine TB can also be contracted from ingesting contaminated feed,” and this is where the biggest issue for Michiganders arises.
This disease, although one that develops slowly, can have large impacts on the state of Michigan in many different fields. There are a number of individuals who hunt whitetail deer as well as other animals like coyotes who may feed on the carcass of an infected deer and then they themselves will become infected. The spread of this disease has a ripple effect on the populations of game in the state which could affect how many people are hunting and how many hunters leave the woods successful. A downturn in the number of people hunting in the state would lead to a potentially harmful decrease in revenue for the state. Additionally, the fragile ecosystems of the outdoors are undoubtedly affected. Many hunters throughout the state utilize bait piles to increase their chances of successful hunts. However, when the outbreaks of bovine TB are thought to be especially bad during a given season, the state of Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will ban the use of bait piles. This can have effects on multiple groups of people. Those who grow the feed to be sold as bait will without question be losing out on profit. Those stores and mills that sell the feed for bait piles will see a decrease in revenue, and those hunters that depend on bait piles for successful hunts are likely to go without harvesting an animal. For some, this would be devastating as there are many people throughout the state that rely on venison as their main meat source. It is much cheaper to kill and process a deer than it is to go to the store and buy hamburger and steak week after week. So, for these individuals who cannot afford beef, there is an adversely negative affect on them. Not to mention, humans can become infected with bovine TB, although it is rare, if someone ate the infected deer meat, it is likely that they would contract the disease. So, education about the disease is something that needs to become common place around those who might be consuming venison. According to the Michigan Out of Doors website, “we are the only state in the nation where Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) has taken a stronghold in the wild deer population.”
While the disease has spread to many different parts of Michigan, it is concentrated in several counties in the northeastern lower peninsula. According to the DNR website, in “2011, bovine tuberculosis (TB) was found in 17 wild white-tailed deer from five counties in Michigan: Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle,” and the DNR wants hunter to submit deer heads for testing from twelve counties: “Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle and Roscommon.” Ideally, I would like to focus my research in this region, however, I would also like to look into its effects in Kent County because that is where I am from, and I and my father are hunters, so this issue affects us directly.
References
This disease, although one that develops slowly, can have large impacts on the state of Michigan in many different fields. There are a number of individuals who hunt whitetail deer as well as other animals like coyotes who may feed on the carcass of an infected deer and then they themselves will become infected. The spread of this disease has a ripple effect on the populations of game in the state which could affect how many people are hunting and how many hunters leave the woods successful. A downturn in the number of people hunting in the state would lead to a potentially harmful decrease in revenue for the state. Additionally, the fragile ecosystems of the outdoors are undoubtedly affected. Many hunters throughout the state utilize bait piles to increase their chances of successful hunts. However, when the outbreaks of bovine TB are thought to be especially bad during a given season, the state of Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will ban the use of bait piles. This can have effects on multiple groups of people. Those who grow the feed to be sold as bait will without question be losing out on profit. Those stores and mills that sell the feed for bait piles will see a decrease in revenue, and those hunters that depend on bait piles for successful hunts are likely to go without harvesting an animal. For some, this would be devastating as there are many people throughout the state that rely on venison as their main meat source. It is much cheaper to kill and process a deer than it is to go to the store and buy hamburger and steak week after week. So, for these individuals who cannot afford beef, there is an adversely negative affect on them. Not to mention, humans can become infected with bovine TB, although it is rare, if someone ate the infected deer meat, it is likely that they would contract the disease. So, education about the disease is something that needs to become common place around those who might be consuming venison. According to the Michigan Out of Doors website, “we are the only state in the nation where Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) has taken a stronghold in the wild deer population.”
While the disease has spread to many different parts of Michigan, it is concentrated in several counties in the northeastern lower peninsula. According to the DNR website, in “2011, bovine tuberculosis (TB) was found in 17 wild white-tailed deer from five counties in Michigan: Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle,” and the DNR wants hunter to submit deer heads for testing from twelve counties: “Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle and Roscommon.” Ideally, I would like to focus my research in this region, however, I would also like to look into its effects in Kent County because that is where I am from, and I and my father are hunters, so this issue affects us directly.
References
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, “Bovine Tuberculosis,” http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10319-99064--,00.html.
- Michigan Out of Doors, MUCC Staff, March 15 2012, http://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/2012/03/good-newsbad-news-2011-michigan-tb-surveillance-report/.
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, “Bovine Tuberculosis Information for Hunters,” http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12150-263062--,00.html.