Are deer transmitting tuberculosis to humans? 🦠

Well, we've made it to the middle of yet another week. With that in mind, let's all take a minute to grab your coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get another mid-week dispatch out the door.

Here's what's worth reading about so far this week:

• TB in deer? - Michigan study proves the link between affected deer and humans 🦠

• Not poaching- 5 deer found mysteriously killed but not by poachers ☠️

• Ohio pulling tail- It was a record year for Buckeye deer hunters 🎯

• You shall not pass - Wyoming building 36 miles of fence for deer crossing ❌

• High dive - Idiots keep jumping into the tanks at Bass Pro Shops 🤦

Thanks for following along. Don't forget to tell your friends.

SAY IT AIN’T SO
ARE PEOPLE CONTRACTING TUBERCULOSIS FROM DEER?

In what was once a leading cause of death in the US, tuberculosis or TB is thankfully on the decline. With the emergence of effective antibiotic treatments, overall cases have shrunk  dramatically here on American soil, while much of the world still suffers from its often fatal effects.

Being the cause of roughly 1.3 million deaths worldwide in 2022, TB is still a cause for concern, even if the US only tallied up 8,000 cases in that same year. 

TB is typically contracted via the M. tuberculosis bacteria which is spread through the air by infected people. A recent study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases has uncovered another mycobacterium causing infection, linked to the most popular game animal on the planet.

The study, authored by James Sunstrum, who is the infectious disease specialist at Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital, has discovered that three confirmed cases and one suspected case in Michigan are leading back to infection by the M. bovis mycobacterium.

“This form of tuberculosis is called bovine tuberculosis, which used to be a major problem in cattle throughout North America,” Sunstrum said. “It was virtually eliminated, but there is a stubborn, small focus in Northern Michigan, near the city of Alpena, where it did not get eradicated and it got established in wild deer. We think that’s one of the potential sources for this popping back into people.”

☠️ Accidental poisoning: 5 deer were found mysteriously dead in an Oregon field last week. In what looked initially to be a case of poaching, has since been ruled an 'accidental poisoning by Oregon State Police.

🎯 The heart of it all: Ohio bumps up deer harvest numbers in a big way. According to the DNR, the Buckeye State hunters had themselves a year, checking in nearly 214,000 deer. This marks the 12th time in history the state saw more than 200k deer hit the ground but hasn't pulled this much tail in over a decade. 

❌ Deer x-ing: With as many as 40 deer per month getting smoked by passing motorists on Wyoming's I-25, the state has announced a massive fencing project they hope will help. With existing crossings in place, the problem is that deer don't seem to be taking the bait. By constructing 36 miles worth of fencing to funnel them in, many are hoping the $4.4 million project puts a dent in wildlife wrecks state-wide.

🚨 Poachers wanted: Wisconsin officials are on a hunt of their own, looking for the suspects that killed a pair of collared elk that were part of the state's reintroduction program. The two elk were wearing blaze orange collars and were believed to have been shot a year apart during fall deer season.

🫎 Cow attack: A woman was viciously attacked while walking on a Wyoming trail last month. According to reports, she was planning on skiing with her husband, but forgot her coat and opted instead to go on a solo hike. She soon stumbled upon an ornery cow moose who wasted absolutely zero time in flinging her into a tree. 

VIDEO // ^{_{SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN}}

😼 Cat-like reflexes: Watch as a bobcat dispatches of a striking rattlesnake quite easily.

🩲 Off the deep end: People keep jumping into the fish tanks at Bass Pro and it's starting to get old.