In many parts of the United States, particularly the Southeast, Midwest and Great Plains states, deer populations can take a massive nosedive due to Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). The deadly viral disease kills female and male deer of all age classes, which is why it’s common for hunters in affected areas to find dead mature bucks — sometimes several of them.
EHD is spread by biting midges. Outbreaks are most common during warm, dry seasons when deer are forced to drink from shallow, stagnant water. These outbreaks can cause major deer die-offs, which disrupt hunting seasons for years.
Until now, there’s never been a product offered to landowners and property managers that can help combat EHD. This new DIY water treatment kit is called EHD-fense, and was developed by a team of aquatic biologists and wildlife experts.
How It Works
The kit is an all-natural, three-part system that treats small ponds and waterholes where EHD-carrying midges breed. It uses beneficial bacteria, enzymes and muck-reducing pellets to improve water quality and limit the conditions that allow midges to thrive.
Each EHD-fense kit includes Catapult Liquid Enzymes, LiveWater Beneficial Bacteria Packets and D-Muck Muck Removal Pellets. Together, these three components restore the natural balance of the pond and reduce organic material that serves as breeding grounds for the midge. The kit components should be used monthly throughout the warm season (5-month treatment), when water temperatures have reached at least 60 degrees.
One kit treats a 2,500-gallon pond — that’s roughly 18 feet in diameter and 1 foot deep. MSRP is $229.99/Kit.
Important note: Because Bluetongue (BT) is passed on by the same genus of midge, EHD-fense will help to improve the ecosystem and food chain health, which in turn will help to eliminate the midge within water sources.
In the 3.5-minute YouTube video below, aquatic biologist Zach Haas explains the system and demonstrates how to use each of the three components included in the kit.
According to Haas, the science behind the three-part system in the kit “is based on countless years of research, discussions with entomologists, invertebrate zoologists, aquatic biologists, and personal experience managing well over 1,500 waterbodies across the Midwest, varying from small wildlife ponds up to 1,000-plus acre lakes.
“The EHD-fense water kit contains all-natural products and doesn’t contain any pesticides whatsoever. I’ve used these products on around 100 or so ponds where the landowner raised honeybees. The products have been tested with pollinators to ensure their safety, and additionally are approved in all organic farming practices as well.”
I look forward to hearing reports in the coming years from landowners and property managers who give this product a try.
Check out the video below to learn more.
