There have been several press releases related to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) which is suspected to be the cause of over 60 deceased Canada geese, swans, and other birds in Plymouth over the weekend and most recently confirmed in two Canada geese on the UMass Amherst campus along with other suspected or confirmed cases in other parts of the state.
State officials depend on the reporting of sick and dead birds by the public in order to expedite testing and diagnosis. The public should not handle birds or animals that are dead or appear sick, instead, please report them!
- Reporting wild birds: The public should report observations of sick or deceased birds if 5 or more birds are found at a single location using this simple form at mass.gov/reportbirds.
- Reporting domestic birds: The public should report sick or dead poultry or other domestic birds by calling MDAR’s Division of Animal Health at (617) 626-1795.
- Handling birds and other wildlife: The public should strictly avoid handling any sick or dead birds or other animals. Report sightings as indicated above or call the local Animal Control Office (Southborough: 508-485-7817)
- Keeping pets safe: Pets should always be kept away from wildlife. Cats are highly susceptible to HPAI and may die from an infection. Cat owners in affected areas should keep their pets indoors to prevent them from being exposed to infected wildlife.
- Hunting geese: While eating wild game meat is generally considered safe, licensed hunters can minimize risk from wildlife diseases by following best practices when handling and processing game.
For more information, you can read the most recent press release here or for more information on HPAI, you can visit the MDAR's Avian Influenza webpage. As this can also affect poultry, be sure to follow MDAR tips on keeping your poultry flock safe here.