This winter, avian influenza viruses have continued to circulate in wild birds across Pennsylvania, and more birds will be migrating to and through the state in the coming weeks. Strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus have been present in Pennsylvania's wild birds since early 2022.
As migration unfolds, the Pennsylvania Game Commission continues to respond to the outbreak, and is asking the public to report any wild birds observed sick or found dead.
Reports can be phoned in to 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453). Submitting reports allows the Game Commission the opportunity to step in with wildlife-management actions including dispatching sick wild birds, recovering and removing carcasses, pursuing diagnostic testing, and conducting stakeholder outreach. The agency continues to work with the Wildlife Futures Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other partners when deploying these strategies. The most substantial activity this winter involved the removal of an estimated 2,000 wild bird carcasses, predominantly snow geese, from a quarry in Northampton County in December and January.
"Over the past five years, Game Commission dispatchers and field personnel, along with our dedicated partners, have worked tirelessly to respond to and investigate suspected highly pathogenic avian influenza events across the Commonwealth," said the agency's wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Andrew Di Salvo. "Responding to every report received from the public is neither logistically possible nor in the best interest of the wildlife, so incidents are prioritized to ensure our actions will have the most impact. High-priority incidents include cases with clear human or domestic animal exposure, a public site, such as a park or playground, that could pose an exposure risk to humans or domestic animals, or a large number of sick or dead wildlife on the landscape that could pose an exposure risk to scavenging wildlife."
Waterfowl – from wood ducks and pintails to snow geese and tundra swans – have been bottled up farther south by cold weather and frozen conditions here. Timing is important for these and other birds returning to their breeding grounds because arriving late means delayed nesting. But they also can't make the demanding journey if food and resting areas along their route are too hard to come by, as happens when conditions are harsh. As Pennsylvania continues to thaw out, though, migrating birds will begin showing up.
Snow geese often come to mind when talking about migration because they flock in large numbers and attract much attention when they come through Pennsylvania on their way to the Arctic. The Game Commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster counties, is a key stop for migrating snow geese, in some years hosting more than 100,000 of them. Snow geese have just begun showing up at Middle Creek, and more will follow.
Wild birds are natural carriers of avian influenza viruses and bird migration enables the disease to be spread over vast distances. The disease also can be spread by legal and illegal movement of infected birds, poultry products, contaminated materials, equipment and vehicles if appropriate biosecurity precautions are not taken.
Aside from waterfowl and shorebirds, avian influenza viruses can significantly impact wild poultry such as turkeys and grouse, raptors such as hawks and eagles, and other avian scavengers, such as crows and ravens. Birds infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza can exhibit neurologic signs, such as swimming or walking in circles, tilting their heads in an unnatural position, tremoring, seizing or having difficulty flying.
Infected birds shed the virus in their feces and saliva, and the disease can impact other mammals, including humans. The public should avoid contacting wild birds or their feces. The Game Commission does not advise that the public handle any abnormal, injured, sick or dead wildlife unless authorized to do so.
Waterfowl and upland bird hunters are encouraged to continue participating in open seasons, but should take precautions while handling and dressing birds. These include wearing nitrile gloves, protective eye wear, and a mask. Following any hunt, make it a point to practice good hygiene, including washing hands and any clothing used in the process of dressing game that may contain blood or feces. Also never handle wildlife that is sick or displaying signs of sickness. Instead, report it to the Game Commission. Hunting dogs can also be protected from the virus by preventing them from contracting or consuming wild bird feces or environmental water that may contain bird feces, and preventing them from contacting sick or found dead wild birds (i.e., non-harvested).
Good hygiene is also recommended in maintaining backyard birdfeeders. While avian influenza typically does not affect bird species that frequent birdfeeders – and there's no prohibition on feeding birds during the outbreak – birdfeeders and bird baths should be emptied every couple of weeks, washed with soapy water, rinsed, then disinfected with a 10% household bleach solution before refilling (either allow a 10-minute contact time before rinsing or allow to air dry). Any spilled seed should also be cleaned up to mitigate disease spread.
If noticing multiple sick or dead birds over a short period of time, taking feeders down and emptying bird baths helps ensure a potential outbreak is not made worse.
Pennsylvanians who raise captive wild birds, domestic backyard poultry, or are involved in commercial poultry operations, meanwhile, should review their biosecurity plans to protect their flocks. The USDA offers free biosecurity information on its website.
Any sick or dead domestic birds should be reported to Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852. If you have had contact with sick or dead birds and are not feeling well, contact your primary care physician or the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 877-724-3258.
And everyone should always observe wildlife from a safe distance, avoid contacting surfaces that may be contaminated with feces from wild or domestic birds, and refrain from handling wildlife unless you are hunting, trapping, or otherwise authorized to do so.
More information about avian influenza is available through the Game Commission's website.