What the heck is all over this deer? -- Edson W.

ANSWER: My initial reaction is: eeewwww! This deer appears to be covered with something called frequent cutaneous neoplasms or fibromas. They are basically skin tumors that are usually dark brown to black, though may occasionally be un-pigmented, tan or white. Biologists don’t know for certain, but suspect they are caused by a virus that may be transmitted by blood-feeding insects. The good news is they are most common found in younger deer.

Ask The BiologistBetter news is that in general, they are not harmful to deer or humans. Infection stimulates an immune response in the host deer. Eventually the fibromas stop growing, then dry up and go away. However, they can affect deer health if the growths are large and interfere with sight, breathing, eating or escaping danger. Larger fibromas can also become, which appears to be the case with the larger, pinkish tumor on the deer pictured - which could result in some type of secondary infection.

Comments

Jason Couture

Wow that's unreal!! Poor thing, I know it states that they are bot harmful but still...I've never ran into one of these before but its always good to know what the heck it is in case I ever do. Thanks for posting this, knowledge is power.

Justin Benoit

i aint ever seen a deer with that. It must just be common with deer in that area!

Roger Haney

seen it before here in NC,killed 3 of them back in 2004,i just burried them and took a 4th buck that was clean

Warrior Outdoors

Jason, Justin, and Roger

Thank you all for the feed back and comments. It will be very helpful to others who read this post. Yes knowledge is power.

Semper Fi

John Jackson

that's just pitiful

Warrior Outdoors

I agree John

Justin Mathew

that looks so painful but apparently isn't according to the passage good to know this doesn't really hurt the dear if i had a shot at it i'd just leave it and let it loose those bumps

Warrior Outdoors

great feed back Justin

tevin smith

i live in wyoming our populations are huge and also seening disease ridden animals is a commen sight for me but never seen that

Warrior Outdoors

Tevin for that reason is why i posted this

Deanna Jones

Shoot yes, eat no.

Zak Harrington

i saw a deer with those befor i can remember what they are called but i was watching a show and a wildlife expert put a name to them that i dont rememebr but they are completly harmless and painless to the deer they are just there as long as the, we will call them tumers, dont interfere with the deers vital functions sutch as sight smell or ability to eat

Zak Harrington

ok so i just found the anser they are called papillomas, one of three benign tumors known to affect white-tailed deer

gavin williams

Never seen this up here in Maine if it was me i would probably shoot the poor deer just take it out of its misery

gavin williams

it was said in the caption it seems to be turning into a infection.

Tim Maxim

shoot it and burn it