CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 63 



deer heads) need not be sent into (he office for examination in oases of 

 moderate or. light hot fly infestations ; l)ut ii record of the jiresence or 

 absence of this pai-asite should be included In the reiiort upon <'ach carcass 

 examined. In cases of heavy infestation, where examination fails to 

 reveal other diseases or causes for death, and hot larvae is the suspected 

 cause, then the animal's entire head should be sent into the office for 

 examination. 



(Jeneral instructions regarding disease. Inspect each carcass for all the 

 alK)ve enumerated diseases. The finding of a single disease in itself is not sulttcient 

 as the same animal might be suffering from two or more maladies, any one of which 

 or a combination of all might have been responsible for its death. Only in cases 

 where parts are thought definitely to be diseased should they be sent to the 

 otnce ; but in such cases, we do want to receive the affected parts as explained above, 

 except that livers are not wanted that are infected with dog tapeworm cysts only, 

 unless they be unusually heavily infested, nor are the heads bearing but moderate hot 

 larvae infestations desired. Workers are cautioned to thoroughly wash hands and 

 clothing if soiled after making examination or handling a diseased carcass. Wasli 

 contaminated parts thoroughly and repeatedly with soap and water. Do not 

 handle food or pipe before washing hands that have been soiled by examining a 

 diseased deer. If "black-leg" is suspected to affect deer, rubber gloves should be 

 worn before touching a diseased carcass and all precautionary measui-es exercised, 

 as this disease is very dangerous. 



B. External parasites: Deer are subject to more or less infestation by fleas 

 and ticks. Usually the animals seem to suffer little or no harm, save possible 

 annoyance from these pests. However, an occasional (usually a poor) deer is 

 found that is very heavily parasitized, particularly by ticks. It is only in such 

 cases of extreme infestation that the workers need direct attention to these parasites 

 when the extent of infested areas should be noted together with visible effect upon 

 the animal. Specimens of the parasites should also be preserved in small bottles of 

 alcohol, labeled, and sent in for determination. It should, however, be borne in 

 mind that cases of heavily parasitized deer occur rather as a result of, rather than 

 as a cause, of sickness. Usually some disease or malnutrition gets the deer's con- 

 dition down so that it can not combat the parasites that normally live on it, then 

 they multiply enormously. Therefore, all cases of heavily parasitized deer should 

 be investigated further for sickness or other ailments. 



Mule deer workers should look carefully in cases of bucks examined for 

 evidence of emasculation through tick bites. There is a popular opinion that 

 many bucks lose their masculinity from this cause and definite information is 

 desired in its regard. 



Occasionally deer may be found to harbor lice, in this event specimens of the 

 mites are desired by the office, preserved in alcohol and accompanied with full data 

 as to host, locality, etc. 



C. Poisons. Full data and stomachs for analysis are desired of all deer 

 suspected of having died from poison. Particularly note the poisonous shrubs or 

 plants in your vicinity and endeavor to ascertain by observation whether or not 

 deer eat them and if so, their effect upon the animals. Certain vetches and wild 

 parsley are among the plants that are sometimes poisonous to live stock and we 

 desire information relative to their effect upon deer, if the auinia] eats them. 



V. Mortality. 



A. In the Work Areas the cause of the death of all deer is desired if it is 

 possible to ascertain. Workers should patrol each area thoroughly at least once 

 a month in search of carcasses. When a dead deer is found, every possible means 

 should be resorted to to determine the cause of mortality. Report should be made 

 separately on each dead deer found and incorporated in monthly reports. If it is 

 impossible to ascertain cause of death, carcass should be listed and cause shown 

 as "unknown." It is of utmost importance to record the age and sex of every 

 dead deer in the report. 



B. Reports are also desired of dead deer and cause of their mortality that 

 are found by the game wardens on areas other than the Work Areas in the course 

 of their regular patrol duties. These reports, however, should be made separately 

 and each should be plainly marked to preclude any possibility of its becoming 

 confused with the Work Area report. 



