Cutaneous Fibroma

Cutaneous fibromas, a.k.a deer warts, are hairless wart-like nodules found on the skin of white-tailed deer, most commonly on the head, neck, and shoulders.  They can be numerous and clumped or singular and widely distributed.  The fibromas are caused by a virus thought to be transmitted through biting insects or direct contact.  Fibromas typically do not cause any problems for white-tailed deer, but in rare cases they can interfere with sight, breathing, eating, and walking or cause secondary bacterial infections.  In the case of a secondary infection (evident through fluid at infection site), white-tailed deer would not be fit for human consumption.  The virus cannot be spread to domestic livestock or humans.