Bovine tuberculosis – which can spread from animals to humans – continues to affect deer herds across Michigan’s northeast Lower Peninsula. And because the disease can be very difficult to identify, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters to turn in their deer heads for free testing this fall.

“A deer can be positive for bovine tuberculosis even if a hunter sees no sign of infection in the lungs or chest cavity,” said Mitch Marcus, DNR Wildlife Health supervisor. “Bovine TB develops slowly, and most positive deer submitted by hunters appear healthy. That’s why submitting deer heads for bovine TB testing is so important. DNR scientists can safely look at lymph nodes where the disease is most likely to show up first.”

The DNR asks hunters who have harvested deer from the following 11-counties in the bovine TB area to submit deer heads for testing: Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle and Roscommon.

Bovine TB is a serious disease affecting white-tailed deer, elk and cattle that is primarily spread through respiratory secretions when animals make nose-to-nose contact or contaminate shared feed and water. The disease can be transmitted to humans as well. It can also persist in the environment during the wet winter months.

Testing deer is crucial for monitoring and managing the spread of bovine TB. Every deer head that hunters submit helps wildlife managers better understand the scope and movement of bovine TB in Michigan.

How to get your deer tested

To submit your deer for TB testing, take it to one of the many disease sample submission sites throughout Michigan. Locations include cooperating processors and taxidermists in addition to DNR field offices and 24-hour drop boxes. Learn more on the?bovine tuberculosis testing page.

TB test results are variable depending on the volume being tested. Testing can take one to four weeks, although longer wait times should be expected during firearm deer season when sample volume is high.

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Precautions for hunters

The DNR recommends that hunters do not consume animals infected with bovine TB. Hunters should take precautions when field-dressing a deer, including wearing rubber gloves and washing hands and tools with anti-bacterial soap and warm water after handling the carcass.

Less than 38% of bovine TB-infected deer show visible signs of disease in the chest cavity. Infection typically starts in lymph nodes in the head and can take years to progress to lesions in the lungs and chest cavity. However, if a hunter does find lesions in a deer’s chest cavity, contact Wildlife Division to further evaluate if bovine TB infection is potentially present.

Hunters concerned about possible contact with an infected deer should talk to a physician about health screening for bovine TB exposure.

Yearly testing goals help inform management in bovine TB area

The DNR works in partnership with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to establish testing goals to detect changes in the occurrence of bovine TB in wild deer within the historic range for the disease and adjacent counties. Deer head submission by hunters is critical in meeting these goals and managing the disease in deer and cattle.

• At least 300 heads need to be collected from each of the following counties each year: Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Ogemaw, Otsego, Presque Isle and Roscommon.
• At least 2,800 heads need to be collected annually from Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties combined.
• Hunters are asked to submit deer carcasses with chest lesions suspicious for bovine TB from anywhere in the state.

At this time, samples are still needed in nearly all counties listed above. Every head a hunter chooses to submit for testing is appreciated and will help achieve these goals.