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Dead deer linked to mold in corn
Published 12:00 p.m., December 9, 2009
Dead deer found in corn fields near Wee Town and Vergas have been linked to mold in corn. However, much of the mold in Otter Tail County is not highly toxic.
Some experts say that dead deer in corn fields may, in fact, be the result of not only deer eating corn but also the deer not getting enough forage in their diets. Many white-tailed deer diets revolve around an alfalfa forage base.
“No matter what the cause, we want to know about dead deer that are found,” said Don Schultz, Area Wildlife Supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), based in Fergus Falls.
Schultz said he’s heard from farmers in the Foxhome area about blue and green mold in corn, not highly toxic.
Health officials throughout the state say that it’s the red or pink mold that’s toxic. Corn must contain aflatoxin in order to be considered deadly to humans or animals
Across the state border, to the west, 60 dead deer were reported in fields in north central North Dakota.
Thus far the Federal Grain Inspection in North Dakota has not found any corn that actually contains aflatoxin. This (aflatoxin) refers to any group of toxic compounds produced by certain molds, especially Aspergillus flavus. Many strains produce significant quantities of acutely toxic compounds.
The mold that’s oftentimes showing up in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota is surface mold. Most, if not all of it, comes off when combined and/or dried.
Some state officials say that many dead deer in corn fields comes about because the deer — while not getting any forage mixed in with their diets — causes them to basically purge themselves with corn and eat themselves to death.
People finding dead deer in fields and elsewhere are requested to contact Schultz at the DNR office in Fergus Falls (739-7576, Ext. 228).
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