Virus Killing Off Montana Deer Herd

A virus carried by tiny biting flies is to blame for a "die-off" of hundreds of white tailed deer in Montana.  State Wildlife officials in that state were originally baffled when they began receiving reports of hundreds of deer carcasses being discovered along the Clark Fork River.

When biologists in the state's lab tested blood and tissue samples they discovered that the epizootic hemorrhagic disease was the reason for the deaths.

The particular biting files in question reside hatch near bodies of water.

In the past the disease has devastated the white tailed deer population in Michigan among other states.

Deer hunting season here in Maine kicks off Saturday November 2nd for Maine residents and ends on Saturday November 30th.