Anytime there is an overpopulation in the animal world a virus seems to materialize and thin out the population. I have seen this happen in the rabbit overpopulation in the past. With out extreme over population in the deer numbers maybe the same thing is happening.
It happens in man too but we strive to control it. The Black Plague is a good example.
It’s been around longer than I have (7+ decades) and always seems to flare up when populations get to dense. Back in the 60’s we had to go over 100 miles to the south to find an area that even had whitetails, now they get into my shrubs during the fall. We even have Muledeer in the county now. They just keep expanding and forming dense pockets. You can’t drive a half mile down the backroads and not see a deer blind and feeders set up. I’ll see 30 to 40 deer a day on the ranch and it’s 5 miles south of the house.
Gypsy Moth Caterpillars.
Their populations increased dramatically over years, then, they all just DIED!
We haven’t had an infestation since. In fact, now when they just start to make a comeback, BOOM! They like explode. I don’t mean in the increase in numbers “expode”, I mean the grenade type of “explode”.
Deer have increased in my area. Almost hit one the other night, “grazing in the road”. Actually it was crossing the road to get to the other side.
I slammed/JUMPED on the brakes harder than I ever have before, just missing hitting it by a whisker.
Anti-lock breaks worked well, no skid marks and I did miss hitting the deer.
I didn’t test it for COVID or CWD, no time, but I almost had it all over the front of my Durango.