DNR says avian flu kills wild birds as well as poultry

By: Pat Batcheller

20 February 2025 at 16:16

A backyard poultry farm in Monroe County is the latest Michigan flock hit by the highly pathogenic Avian influenza.

Hundreds of thousands of turkeys at a commercial farm in Ottawa County had to be euthanized at the end of last year because of the bird flu outbreak.

But the disease isn’t only affecting turkeys and chickens. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources estimates the virus has killed more than 300 wild birds in five counties since Jan. 1, 2025.

Mitch Marcus, a wildlife health supervisor at the DNR, says the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is also affecting waterfowl and birds of prey.

“Think ducks, geese, swans,” he said. “Also scavenging birds and raptors, so think eagles and owls.”

People who found dead birds in the wild alerted the DNR. Marcus says scientists at Michigan State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab test tissue samples for the virus.

“If HPAI is suspect from those results, the samples get sent on to the national vet services laboratory for confirmation,” he said.

The DNR encourages people who find at least six dead birds in one area to report the discovery through its “eyes in the field” tool.

Marcus says it’s best to avoid direct contact with a dead bird in the wild. If someone finds one on their property, he recommends caution.

“If they’re in a situation where they have to get that carcass removed, I would suggest that they utilize some personal protective equipment,” he said.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also offers advice for pet owners concerned about bird flu.

“A good general precaution is just keep your pets away from any sick or dead wild animals,” Marcus said.

The DNR says HPAI has infected some feral and domestic cats in the U.S., but so far, it has not affected dogs.

The state has detected the virus at large commercial poultry farms in western Michigan as well as backyard flocks in Wayne, Oakland, and Monroe counties.

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DNR collects 300 dead wild birds, suspects avian flu infection as cause of death

WDET 101.9 FM

By: Dee Morrison

13 February 2025 at 20:06

More than 300 dead wild birds have been discovered in five Michigan counties, including Allegan, Shiawasee, Ingham, Eaton and Washtenaw.

Mark Mills, southwest region manager of the wildlife division for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, says the recent cold snap froze lakes — which forced waterfowl to gather in larger numbers where there is open water.

“When you concentrate wildlife just like when you concentrate people in a smaller area you see a greater level of disease transmission typically so I think it’s really connected to these birds being clumped up together.”

DNR staff have been collecting the dead birds — mostly Canada geese — for testing of highly pathogenic avian influenza, easily spread and often fatal in birds.

Mills says the DNR doesn’t expect serious impacts to Michigan’s duck, goose or swan populations statewide, although concentrated areas may see more die-off, like the 1,500-acre refuge at the Fennville Farm Unit in the Allegan State Game Area.

“The unit collected 70-something carcasses, and we estimate there’s over 6,000 birds there right now, so we’re talking a very low percentage of the geese that are present even at that one location.”

He asks anyone who finds six or more dead birds in one location to please report it to the DNR via the agency’s website or by calling the Wildlife Disease Laboratory at 517-336-5030.

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