Avian flu suspected in death of 200 snow geese in Pa.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission says it suspects avian influenza is to blame for the death of 200 snow geese in the state.

The agency said the geese were found Monday in the Allentown area and recovered from two sites — one in Lower Nazareth Township in Northampton County and another in Upper Macungie Township in Lehigh County.

The Game Commission said sick birds were also observed at both locations.

According to the agency, preliminary testing detected the presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in the dead geese. The results are being confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at their National Veterinary Services Laboratories.

Avian influenza has affected wild and domestic birds in every state since the outbreak started in 2022. More than 129 million birds have been impacted in the U.S., including wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry and backyard or hobbyist flocks, according to the USDA.

The virus has also been detected in dairy cows and humans. In early December, cat food was recalled after it was found to be contaminated with the virus.

Wild birds are carriers and spread the virus through their feces and saliva. The virus can lead to sickness or death in raptors (hawks, eagles), avian scavengers (crows, gulls, ravens), other waterfowl species (ducks, geese), and wild poultry (turkey, grouse).

Signs of infection in wild birds may include neurologic dysfunction such as circling, head tilting and difficulty flying.

Avian flu is particularly contagious and lethal in domestic poultry. The Pennsylvania Farm Show reintroduced some market poultry competitions this year after a two-year hiatus.

Anyone who encounters sick or dead wild birds can report them to the Pennsylvania Game Commission by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453), emailing [email protected] or by using the online Wildlife Health Survey tool.

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.

This article by Sue Gleiter was first published by PennLive on 2 January 2025. Lead Image: The Pennsylvania Game Commission said dead geese were found Monday in the Allentown area and recovered from two sites — one in Lower Nazareth Township in Northampton County and another in Upper Macungie Township in Lehigh County. File photo by Dan Gleiter | [email protected].