On Sunday, July 19, 2015, a mule deer buck came into our salt lick. I noticed a large lump on his left shoulder and another one on his right shoulder. However, when he turned to the side, his entire right side was covered with lumps varying in size from golf ball to softball size. He probably had between 15 and 20 lumps but otherwise seemed healthy and they didn't seem to affect him. I have never seen anything like this and wondered if you could tell me what they are?
Answer:
Mule deer and whitetail "tumors" can be benign or malignant depending on the growth. The most commonly encountered tumor is the benign fibroma caused by the papilloma virus and are quite common in deer. Maybe not surprisingly, they can be more regularly seen around salt licks as the virus is spread by contact or biting insects and any place of congregation may help spread the diseases. They don't seem to affect the animal unless they interfere with feeding or sight, and don't impact the meat for eating. Deer often recover from the virus and the papilloma disappear.
Answered on:
Monday, July 27, 2015 - 9:56 AM MDT