White-tailed deer are prone to getting a variety of infectious diseases, viruses, bacteria and parasites, which makes their presence on your property a major health concern.
Although rare, the most serious concern for humans and their pets is the chance of contracting Bovine Tuberculosis (bovine TB) from white-tailed deer. Bovine TB is a chronic, progressive and highly contagious respiratory disease that can take several months to years before clinical signs appear. White-tailed deer also carry parasites like ticks; which also makes humans susceptible to tick-borne infections such as Lyme disease.
In addition to these health risks, deer can damage crops, trees, and gardens from their foraging. They’re also responsible for 2% of motor vehicle accidents in Virginia.
Despite their gentle appearance, it’s clear to see the dangers associated with having white-tailed deer problems and the dangers are too great to ignore.