JACKSON — Wildlife biologists in Mississippi have spent the past several weeks conducting annual deer herd health evaluations across the state to monitor reproduction, body condition and disease prevalence in mature female deer, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks said.
Officials said the work is being carried out in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Mississippi State University. The surveys focus on female deer ages 2.5 years and older and are conducted each year on wildlife management areas, state parks, U.S. military lands and other public and private properties.
Biologists collect breeding data to determine peak rut timing, disease data including parasite loads and testing for epizootic hemorrhagic disease and chronic wasting disease, and body condition measurements such as weight and Kidney Fat Index. The department said those measurements help wildlife managers track herd health over time; Kidney Fat Index is a commonly used metric for assessing body condition.
The department said evaluations are especially important in areas where updated breeding data is needed, hunting pressure is limited, or herd changes are being monitored. Officials said all deer harvested during the evaluations are donated to charitable organizations, including Hunters for the Hungry and local food banks. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
