By CJ Lotz

California wildlife officials think a recent outbreak of lice might be causing deer to go bald across the state. Researchers say the deer respond to the lice by biting and scratching, which can cause hair loss. Hair and blood samples have been collected from 600 deer and elk.

Here's another possible side effect of the lice: as deer spend more time grooming, they become easy targets for coyotes and mountain lions.

“While this theory is still under investigation, what we do know is that the louse has impacted migratory populations of California deer, which now have a low fawn survival rate, making it difficult to replenish the herd,” a senior biologist said.

Read more from Redding.

Photo by California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Comments (1)

from RJ Arena wrote 1 week 4 days ago

Maybe the bleeding hearts (PETA) can go out and and dust all of the deer with organic, non-toxic, hormone-free, anti-lice powder. No, they will find some way to blame hunters for the problem. Most likely the deer got the lice from the dirty "deer hugger" nut-jobs that have pushed all of their "programs" down the throats of the dwindling tax payers of the golden state.

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from RJ Arena wrote 1 week 4 days ago

Maybe the bleeding hearts (PETA) can go out and and dust all of the deer with organic, non-toxic, hormone-free, anti-lice powder. No, they will find some way to blame hunters for the problem. Most likely the deer got the lice from the dirty "deer hugger" nut-jobs that have pushed all of their "programs" down the throats of the dwindling tax payers of the golden state.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.