MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

BY ROBERT HERRIMAN, Examiner – “For the first time in more than half a century, the state of Oregon is reporting the cause of death of some steer was from naturally occurring anthrax.

According to an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) news release Friday, one steer died from a herd in Klamath County. Oregon Department of Agriculture officials have been working to protect neighboring cattle. The steer identified with anthrax died August 22. Two other steers died at around the same time.

Oregon health officials say the anthrax cases pose no human public threat, the task will be to prevent cattle and other animals on neighboring ranches from being infected…

According to Oregon state veterinarian, Brad Leamaster, D.V.M., ‘The risk is minimal outside the affected ranch. Oregon has not had an anthrax case in animals in more than 50 years, but anthrax outbreaks are not uncommon in other parts of the Western United States.'” Read more.

Flashback: Colorado: First Anthrax Outbreak In 31 Years Kills Dozens Of Cows On Logan County Ranch – “Two more cows have died from anthrax exposure in northeast Colorado, expanding the first outbreak of the disease in the state in 31 years to three ranches. Last week, 60 cows died on a Logan County ranch, where anthrax was positively identified in one animal. Officials say it’s likely they all died of the disease. The Colorado Department of Agriculture said Wednesday the additional cows were on two separate adjacent ranches. Both died from the disease.” Read more.

BY CHRISTINE PETERSON – “NEWCASTLE — Another disease has broken out at the Downar Bird Farm near Yoder in southeast Wyoming.

More than 2,700 pheasants have died in the past several weeks because of a botulism outbreak, said Brian Nesvik, chief of the wildlife division for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Botulism occurs naturally in the environment and needs certain conditions to take hold, he said. This outbreak is not a threat to human public health, he said.

Last year, a disease called psittacosis struck the bird farm and resulted in all of the birds and eggs being destroyed. The botulism outbreak has nothing to do with last year’s disease, Nesvik said.

‘Botulism is everywhere. It’s just if the conditions are right,’ said bird farm superintendent Steve Schafer.

Conditions include hot and dry weather like the area has experienced this summer, Nesvik said.

An outbreak of botulism moved through the bird farm about 30 years ago.

The disease is spread from unhealthy and dying birds to healthy birds. Bird farm staff members are trying to minimize the spread by frequently walking the pens and removing dead and sick birds, according to a media release.” Read more.

“LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Hundreds of deer in eight Michigan counties have died from a viral disease that is on the rise nationwide because of hot, dry weather, state officials said Thursday.

Deer infected with epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, have been found in Barry, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton and Montcalm counties, the state Department of Natural Resources said. Experts previously confirmed the illness had killed deer in Ionia and Branch counties.

EHD outbreaks have happened in isolated sections of Michigan repeatedly since 2006. The drought and high temperatures are contributing to this year’s uptick, the DNR said.

‘We are seeing a large die-off of deer in local areas. To date we have over 900 reports of dead deer across all (eight) counties,’ stated Tom Cooley, DNR wildlife biologist and pathologist. ‘Although it is difficult to see so many dead deer, this is still a localized issue and the regional deer population should not be impacted.'” Read more.

Biologists Believe Disease Killing Deer In Oklahoma – “Officials say a sick deer found in northeast Oklahoma was dying of a bleeding disease spread by a biting gnat. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation biologist Craig Endicott told the Tulsa World (http://bit.ly/NFC1kG) 10 other deer found dead near the Verdigris River likely had the same ailment, known as epizootic hemorrhagic disease. The virus is spread by a biting gnat. Eight deer were found last week after area residents reported seeing sick and dead deer in the river.” Read more.

Sick And Dead Deer Reported In Eastern Kansas – “The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) is asking anyone who sees a sick or dead deer to phone local KDWPT staff and report where and how many deer are involved. To help identify the extent of the disease, an online survey is also available for people to report fresh or decomposing carcasses… So far this year, KDWPT has received reports of dead or sick deer from at least 24 counties in northcentral and eastern Kansas.” Read more.

Biologists Investigate Disease Killing And Sickening Deer In Indiana – “Wildlife biologists from the Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Fish & Wildlife are investigating recent reports of sick or dead deer for possible epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). Morgan and Putnam counties are experiencing the most intense outbreaks, but suspect reports have come from 11 counties in total. EHD is a viral disease that likely affects white-tailed deer every year, DNR deer biologist Chad Stewart said. It typically occurs during late summer and early fall, and there is evidence that outbreaks may be worse during drought years.” Read more.

Disease Killing Dozens Of Deer In Iowa– “This drought is a hassle for wildlife as well as for people and plants — from fish dying in shallow waters to deer killed by a virus carried by heat-thriving insects. Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials are warning of a threat to the state’s deer population from insects that have thrived in the dry conditions. State officials are sorting through reports of more than 40 dead deer likely killed by epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD.” Read more.

Virus Suspected After Deer Found Dead In Arkansas – “A blood- and insect-borne virus that kills deer each year in August and September could kill a larger number this year because of record drought and heat in Arkansas, according to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists. Three deer, all females that apparently had weaned fawns recently, were found dead this week in Marion County… The drought that has killed or stunted native and plotted grasses that deer thrive on has also made weaker deer more vulnerable to the virus, he said.” Read more.