3.5 million deer have been found in Nevada, bringing the total number of deer found in the state to more than 3.8 million, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
“The deer population is growing in the deserts of Nevada, but they’re finding it hard to find food and habitat,” said Bill Hester, Nevada director of wildlife, during a news conference Wednesday.
“There’s a lot of habitat loss, and that’s something we’re dealing with as well.”
Hester said there are also many cases of deer being released into the desert, so they’ve been getting out to graze.
The number of reported deer found this year is up nearly 50 percent compared to last year, according, with the total recorded in the western part of the state up about 30 percent.
Hester told ABC News the number of dead deer is expected to increase by a lot this year, with a spike in the eastern part of Nevada in June, and in the southern part of that state in July.