The Willoughby (Ohio) News-Herald reported Monday that the Ohio Department of Agriculture has confirmed drought-driven Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is responsible for the death of 13 captive deer on a farm in Middletown Township.

Outdoors writer Jeffrey Frischkorn reports Mike Tonkovich, the Ohio Division of Wildlife's deer management administrator, said the Ohio Department of Agriculture confirmed the 13 deaths from a herd of about 120 captive-raised animals.

The report is significant on two fronts: it appeared to mark the arrival of the fatal viral disease in The Buckeye State, and it was confirmed by the state Department of Agriculture. The latter is noteworthy because of the recent passage of legislation that removed the oversight of captive deer-breeding operations from the Division of Wildlife and placed it with the Department of Agriculture, effective July 1.

Further, Frischkorn writes that a northern Portage County landowner has reported dead deer along the Upper Cuyahoga River, just downstream from Geauga County.

Other dead deer have been found along a watercourse in Monroe County as well, Tonkovich said.