The State Game Commission is warning that thousands of migrating geese are carrying avian influenza into the state and endangering other wildlife that come into contact with them, including animals that eat dead geese.
The “bird flu” is a highly contagious virus that is lethal to waterfowl and domestic poultry. Its scientific name is “highly pathogenic avian influenza”, or HPAI. Another designation is H5N1.
While the Game Commission struggles with finding ways to contain the virus, it advises the public to report sick or dead waterfowl but not to take birds to rehabilitation facilities, going so far as ordering such organizations not to take in birds or face penalties. Still, some of those facilities report that people keep dropping off infected birds.
According to the Game Commission, scavenger wildlife are becoming infected as well. It reports positive virus results in crows, hawks, turkey vultures, and red foxes.
The Game Commission had positive bird flu results at 44 different sites as of last week.
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