IRON MOUNTAIN — To date, there is no evidence of deer dying from COVID-19, or humans contracting the coronavirus from eating venison.

Nonetheless, Dr. Srinand Sreevatsan, a Michigan State University veterinary medicine professor who specializes in infectious diseases, urges hunters who bag a deer to handle it with care.

“It’s best to have good hygienic practice,” he said in a recent interview with Bridge Michigan.

Sreevatsan recommends wearing a mask while processing the animal’s meat, and thoroughly cleaning any surface that comes into contact with the carcass.

Scientists have evidence that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19, spreads explosively in white-tailed deer and that the virus is widespread in deer across the U.S.

Virologist Linda Saif at Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine told National Public Radio this week that humans are likely infecting white-tailed deer.

“Now the question is: Can the virus spill back from deer to humans? Or can deer transmit the virus effectively to grazing livestock? We don’t know the answers to those questions yet, but if they are true, they’re obviously concerning,” she said.

Another concern is that SARS-CoV-2 could evolve inside the deer and create new strains of the virus.

“If we want to continue to be proactive about emerging variants — and not be surprised by one that suddenly pops up — there’s an urgent need to continue to monitor SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife,” said veterinary virologist Suresh Kuchipudi at Pennsylvania State University.

Kuchipudi led a study that found active SARS-CoV-2 infections in at least 30% of deer tested across Iowa during 2020.

The findings suggest that white-tailed deer could become what’s known as a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. That is, the animals could carry the virus indefinitely and spread it back to humans periodically, NPR reported.

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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported this Upper Peninsula fishing activity:

— Little Bay de Noc: Smallmouth anglers reported fair success when fishing in water depths of around 25 feet. Anglers were using a mix of soft artificial and sucker minnows. Walleye anglers were having little success, with reports of only a few fish being caught. Anglers were fishing out of Kipling and at Center Reef. Most anglers were trolling crankbaits, although some were pitching jigs. Anglers were also catching pike.

— Big Bay de Noc: Most fishing pressure in the bay was from anglers targeting smallmouth. Anglers were catching fish in areas of 25 to 30 feet of water.