The mutations suggest the virus has adapted to deer, possibly making it more transmissible between them, the study said. More study is needed to confirm whether these variants will disappear in deer over time or whether there is risk of SARS-CoV-2 spreading to other wildlife, including predators, the study said. �� COVID-19 Variants of Concern, Obsolete in Humans, Found in White-Tailed Deer in US: Study.