Avian influenza remains a threat to wild birds across Idaho, and Idaho Fish and Game is aware of several locations reporting cases of wild bird die-offs. Unfortunately, the disease will have to run its course in most instances. Fish and Game personnel cannot respond to all cases of infected wild birds, but staff are actively working to pick up carcasses of birds in areas with the largest number of dead waterfowl.
“We are aware that sick and dead wild geese are currently being reported by the public in the Lake Lowell, Parma, and Fort Boise areas of the Treasure Valley, and we estimate the number of dead birds to be in the thousands,” said Fish and Game’s Wildlife Health Program Coordinator Stacey Dauwalter. “Fish and Game staff are working hard to remove the dead birds, as that is the best option we have to reduce impacts of avian influenza.”
According to Fish and Game Migratory Game Bird Coordinator Jeff Knetter, mortality events like this are currently widespread.
“Groups of dead light geese – which include blue, snow, Ross’s geese – have been discovered as far east as Indiana and Tennessee and as far south as Louisiana and Texas,” Knetter said. “While unfortunate, several thousand light geese dying in a mortality event does not present population level concerns; the number of birds impacted is a very small proportion of the overall population which exceeds a million birds.”
Avian influenza is carried primarily by waterfowl (geese and ducks) along their migratory paths from their summer habitat to their wintering grounds. Southwest Idaho has become an important migratory stopover in the relatively recent past—there has been a large increase in the number of white geese that stop here during fall over the last 15 years, and the same is true for birds heading back north in spring. As many as 30,000+ were counted at Lake Lowell last winter.
What to do (and not to do)
Live birds showing signs of illness should be left alone. Local wildlife rehabilitation centers are not currently accepting wild birds. There is no treatment or vaccine for avian influenza and moving sick birds may spread it farther.
Dead birds can be disposed of in the trash to ensure other animals do not contact or consume them. The best practice when handling the birds is to use gloves and a mask, and place them in a double-bagged trash bag. People should also make sure to wash their hands after handling birds.
Please report sick or dead wild bird observations on Fish and Game’s website to assist avian influenza surveillance efforts.
Hunters, please see this resource for more information.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans; however, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred. Symptoms may include conjunctivitis, fever, lethargy, aches, coughing, or diarrhea.
Domestic birds and poultry are very susceptible to dying once exposed to avian influenza. Influenza is transmitted between birds through close contact (mucous), fecal matter, and sometimes through the air. It is also carried on objects such as tools, vehicles, clothes, and boots, which can transfer the virus from one location to another. Please contact the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) if you have concerns about commercial or backyard poultry.
For more information for domestic poultry owners and others who house birds: