Tragic photos reveal helpless deer covered in tumors

Carrow updated Natural Resources Wildlife Refuge dept with the fibromas situation of the deer.

MINNESOTA (Web Desk) - Julie Carrow, a nurse photographer, spotted a deer that was covered in so many growths that she was unable to see its eyes and it turns out the condition stems from papillomavirus, which is more commonly known as HPV in humans.

Carrow later updated her followers saying Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Refuge personnel had contacted her after she reached out. It emerged the deer has a bad case of Fibromatosis which is not contagious for humans and not fatal for deer.

However, the Quality Deer Management Association said the disease can affect a deer’s sight, breathing, mobility and feeding. Therefore deer like this are at more risk of being caught by predators.

DNR said it is ‘not new’ in Minnesota as ‘we get photos just about every year showing deer with fibromas’.

Carrow asserted, "They won’t be taking any action. They are like warts. In time, they regress and fall off; however, in very extreme cases there can be complications. ...We will not interfere with nature in this case."

The department’s Michelle Carstensen told Citypages the appearance makes the deer less likely to be killed by a human for flesh though. "Its main significance lies in the consternation and concern experienced by the hunter who shoots a deer covered with ugly-looking lumps."

"Though they don’t harm the meat, fibromas are repulsive to most persons and therefore render a fine trophy aesthetically undesirable," Michelle added.