EHD-fense: A New Tool to Treat Your Standing Water

Late summer and early fall are primetime for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) across the whitetail’s range. This viral disease, spread by biting midges that breed in stagnant water, can cause massive local or regional deer die-offs and is known to be particularly lethal for mature bucks, making it a particular concern among hunters.

EHD outbreaks are especially prevalent during prolonged drought periods, as hot, dry conditions result in more warm, shallow, stagnant bodies of water with exposed areas of mud — the perfect breeding environment for midges. The dry weather also limits water sources, forcing deer to congregate around the water that remains, making them highly susceptible to midge bites and EHD infection. Mature bucks are particularly vulnerable in late summer because the biting midges are attracted to the velvet-covered, blood-filled antlers atop their heads. Add in the fact that both midges and deer are most active around dawn and dusk and you have the perfect storm for outbreaks of EHD, which causes high fever, internal hemorrhaging and, in many cases, death.

Now, hunters, landowners and property managers have a brand new tool to combat EHD. It’s called the EHD-fense Water Treatment Kit, and it uses a combination of three products to improve water quality and eliminate the conditions that allow midges to successfully breed. Each EHD-fense kit treats up to 2,500 gallons of water, an area about 18-feet wide and one foot deep.

The EHD-fense kit includes three items that work together to improve water quality at the biological level. Catapult consists of liquid enzymes that help break down organic matter and help beneficial bacteria thrive. LiveWater pouches consist of beneficial bacteria that help remove excess nitrogen and phosphorous from the water. And D-Muck consists of sinkable pellets with microbiota that digest built-up organic sediment at the bottom, where midges breed.

All the ingredients in EHD-fense are safe for deer, birds, other wildlife and the environment. EHD-fense can be used to treat ponds, water tanks and other areas of standing water, helping reduce the availability of midge breeding areas and supporting other aquatic organisms that will outcompete midges. As the company’s slogan says, “No Dead Water, No Dead Deer!”

$299.99 | ehd-fense.com

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