Report Sick or Dying Birds to Delaware DNREC
Delaware Health and Social Services | Department of Agriculture | Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Division of Public Health | Featured Posts | News | Date Posted: Wednesday, January 22, 2025
The Delmarva Avian Influenza Joint Information Center announced today that the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services are collaborating to collect sick and deceased snow geese and other wild birds that may have succumbed to the outbreak of avian influenza currently spreading throughout the state. The expanded statewide collection effort to help track the bird flu is funded through DNREC and the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA).
Sick or dead wild animals found in Delaware during the avian influenza outbreak or at any time of year, are to be reported to the DNREC Wildlife Section. Reporting deceased or ill wildlife does not guarantee that DNREC and APHIS Wildlife Services will respond to every report, only that a DNREC or APHIS Wildlife Services representative will assess the report, and if additional information is needed, may make follow-up contact.
State authorities also reiterated that the public should not pick up or handle any sick birds. Dead birds should not be picked up unless disposable plastic gloves are worn to handle them. This guidance also applies to waterfowl hunters.
Read the entire news post for other important information concerning the outbreak.
Snow geese flock to farm fields during the day, putting local poultry farms and backyard flocks at risk for avian influenza. Photo: DE DNREC
