Ask Fish and Game

Q. I heard about the dead ducks in Oakley. If I go duck hunting is it safe to eat the ducks I shoot? A. There is no risk to hunters of getting this disease from harvested ducks. The disease is a fungal infection and is not contagious to humans or between birds. It is a localized outbreak. What probably happened was the birds found a pile of very moldy grain, fed and then returned to a nearby roost site where they died. As with all game, hunters should wear latex gloves when cleaning game, and it should be thoroughly cooked before eating.