If you go deer hunting in Michigan this year, you need to be aware of the positive bovine tuberculosis testing results in northeast Michigan and parts of lower and mid-Michigan.

Tuberculosis — sometimes referred to as TB — is a serious bacterial disease that attacks the respiratory system of both animals and humans. Tuberculosis comes in several types, but bovine tuberculosis (bTB) can infect the widest variety of animals, and Michigan wildlife managers have been trying to eliminate it in whitetail deer in the state for years.

“Michigan is the only state in the U.S. that has found bTB established in wild deer,” DNR state wildlife veterinarian Kelly Straka said. “And at this time, there are no effective vaccines to help push back against the spread of this disease.”

Hunters are asked to have any deer that shows signs of bovine TB tested. Hunters can positively identify bovine TB during the field dressing process. Lymph nodes in the animal’s head will typically show signs of infection first, but they may also be lesions on the lungs and chest cavity.

Hunters in Michigan are obligated to help tackle this problem as quickly as possible before it spreads to other areas of North America.

“Michiganders need to educate themselves about this disease, and find out ways they can help,” DNR Wildlife Division chief Russ Mason said. “Whether you are a hunter submitting samples for surveillance, or a cattle producer fencing off feed to prevent cattle/deer interactions, it’s these everyday actions that can affect change over time. This is not a problem for just whitetail deer hunters, or cattle farmers, or even residents in the northern Lower Peninsula; this is a problem for everyone in Michigan.”

Should a deer show this type of infection, the DNR says it should be submitted to the DNR for laboratory testing. The DNR is strongly encouraging hunters to submit heads for testing from all deer harvested in the following counties in Michigan from Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Huron, Iosco, Lake, Mecosta, Montmorency, Newaygo, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle and Roscommon.

Again, currently bovine TB is only limited to a handful of counties in Michigan but is something that is of interest to all whitetail hunters.