Frequently Asked Questions

Wildlife Diseases

Can white-tailed deer get mange?

Yes. Mange in white-tailed deer is caused by a mite known as Demodex odocoilei that is only found on whitetails. Demodetic mange causes hair loss that is often accompanied by the thickening of the skin in the affected areas. Mange is usually rare in whitetails. The lesions are confined to the skin of the animal and do not affect the muscles. Once the animal has been skinned, the meat is edible.