GREATS PADDLE TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 17, 2026, ON THE GRAND RIVER LOCATED NORTH OF EATON RAPIDS, HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO DEAD

WHITETAIL DEER IN AND NEAR THE GRAND RIVER.  

The deer are getting bit by a midge that sometimes is caring the Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), a virus that causes the deer to bleed internally, have a high fever and seek water to cool off, where they soon die.  They claim the EDH will not hurt people, and it is safe to eat deer that have the virus.  The danger is the rotting deer carcasses can give off bacteria, e-coli, parasites, giardia, and can cause serious infections.

The EHD has now been detected in 14 Counties in Southern Lower Michigan. For the safety of our paddlers, the Great Board has unanimously voted to cancel the Grand River Paddle this October.