More than 100 elk were found dead on an area ranch 20 miles northwest of Las Vegas earlier this week. According to to the New Mexico Game and Fish, none of the animals were shot and their investigation is leaning toward Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease.

Wyoming has had it's share of mass deaths of elk including the winters of 2004 and 2008 when over 500 elk died from what was determined to be lichen poisoning tied to the dry conditions at the time.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease is generally thought to most affect whitetail, mule deer and pronghorn antelope as well as domesticated cattle. If confirmed this would be the first large die off of elk attributed to EHD.

As always wherever you may be hunting you are advised to avoid harvesting elk or any wildlife that appear sick and to call and report anything unusual.

Here is a video from SkyNews 13 of the area north of Las Vegas,