Parelaphostrongylus tenuis or brainworm

[Cody Raney]

Does anyone know if captive Whitetail i.e. those that are born and bred in captivity and are about as wild as a chihuahua, are infected with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis or brainworm? I used to go to Lone Elk Park in Missouri a lot as a kid, and I don't ever remember any of the Deer, Elk, or Bison ever being affected by it.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

Does anyone know if captive Whitetail i.e. those that are born and bred in captivity and are about as wild as a chihuahua, are infected with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis or brainworm? I used to go to Lone Elk Park in Missouri a lot as a kid, and I don't ever remember any of the Deer, Elk, or Bison ever being affected by it.

It's environmental, so yes, it's possible. Parelaphostrongylus tenuis - Wikipedia

I highly doubt that the owners of a privately owned safari park were ever going to advertise that their ungulates were infected.

That being said, why are you assuming that captive-bred White-tailed deer would be as "wild as a Chihuahua"?

Being held in captivity doesn't equal domestication. You could get tame Whitetails by pulling them from their mothers and hand-rearing them, but any facility that made a habit of doing such a thing would not be what I would personally consider an ethical place.

Tame animal - Wikipedia

 

[filovirus]

a large percent of the wild population (~80%) is infected but fairly few display clinical signs. if you saw white tailed deer it's pretty probable that you saw at least one deer with brainworm, and just didn't know it.

 

[Cody Raney]

It's environmental, so yes, it's possible. Parelaphostrongylus tenuis - Wikipedia

I highly doubt that the owners of a privately owned safari park were ever going to advertise that their ungulates were infected.

That being said, why are you assuming that captive-bred White-tailed deer would be as "wild as a Chihuahua"?

Being held in captivity doesn't equal domestication. You could get tame Whitetails by pulling them from their mothers and hand-rearing them, but any facility that made a habit of doing such a thing would not be what I would personally consider an ethical place.

Tame animal - Wikipedia

Wild as a chihuahua meant an animal that has been interacted with and cared for on a daily basis and had gotten used to human interaction.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

Wild as a chihuahua meant an animal that has been interacted with and cared for on a daily basis and had gotten used to human interaction.

So, tame then.

It's very unlikely that you'll get a tame Whitetail without having hand-raised it.

 

[FBBird]

Wild as a chihuahua meant an animal that has been interacted with and cared for on a daily basis and had gotten used to human interaction.

A lot of Chihuahuas can get really wild if provoked. I’m told more vets get bitten by them than anything else

 

[Cody Raney]

A lot of Chihuahuas can get really wild if provoked. I’m told more vets get bitten by them than anything else

How about wild as a Beagle, mine is the quintessential house hippo.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

@Cody Raney

I don't think the comparisons to breeds of domestic dog are particularly helpful. That just makes me picture a deer living in a suburban house, partaking in family activities.

Is that really the message that you intended to send? Because why on earth would you want deer that act like housepets? You need to be mindful of how your animals act. You want wild animals to act like wild animals, around members of the public at least.

The last thing that the zoological world needs is for the general public to get even more confused about what their relationship with wildlife should be.

 

[Cody Raney]

No one said anything about Deer living in someone's home. I've been to places that have had either Fallow Deer, Whitetail, or Reindeer in a captive setting, either in a petting zoo or a large enclosure and those deer would come up and would nudge with their heads until they were petted or scratched. I did not mean Deer would act like literal dog. Wild Deer, unused to human interaction would of course bolt when approached. We are talking about Deer born and raised in captivity that have never gone hungry or had to worry about becoming a meal for a Wolf or Cougar.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

No one said anything about Deer living in someone's home.

And as I just explained, you're comparisons of deer to breeds of domestic dog is what caused me to think that's what you wanted. You need to be more mindful about what examples that you use when you're communicating to other people.

I've been to places that have had either Fallow Deer, Whitetail, or Reindeer in a captive setting, either in a petting zoo or a large enclosure and those deer would come up and would nudge with their heads until they were petted or scratched.

And I would consider such facilities to be morally gray when it comes to ethics at best. One shouldn't encourage the public to think that feeding wild animals is acceptable.

We are talking about Deer born and raised in captivity that have never gone hungry or had to worry about becoming a meal for a Wolf or Cougar.

You still seem to be confusing tameness with domestication. Wild animals, held in captivity or otherwise, should still retain their wild natures and instincts unless behaviorally modified by humans.

 

[Cody Raney]

And as I just explained, you're comparisons of deer to breeds of domestic dog is what caused me to think that's what you wanted. You need to be more mindful about what examples that you use when you're communicating to other people.



And I would consider such facilities to be morally gray when it comes to ethics at best. One shouldn't encourage the public to think that feeding wild animals is acceptable.



You still seem to be confusing tameness with domestication. Wild animals, held in captivity or otherwise, should still retain their wild natures and instincts unless behaviorally modified by humans.

You do realize the point of this particular thread was what the prevalence of the parasite in captive deer populations is and not how someone uses comparisons or what they use as a comparison.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

You do realize the point of this particular thread was what the prevalence of the parasite in captive deer populations is and not how someone uses comparisons or what they use as a comparison.

You're the one who muddied the waters in the first place, my dude.

as wild as a chihuahua

 

[Cody Raney]

In all seriousness who cares about the chihuahua thing.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

In all seriousness who cares about the chihuahua thing.

I do.

 

[Katoya]

In places like Lone Elk Park, good management limits this risk, so infections are rare. If you keep captive deer, controlling snails and slugs is the best way to prevent brainworm.

 

[Cody Raney]

In places like Lone Elk Park, good management limits this risk, so infections are rare. If you keep captive deer, controlling snails and slugs is the best way to prevent brainworm.

Thank You.