Game and Fish monitors bird flu during fall migration

BISMARCK – The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is monitoring sick and dead birds across the state in response to increasing reports from the public, the agency said in a news release.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is likely the cause and has been confirmed through testing this fall, said Dr. Logan Weyand, wildlife veterinarian for Game and Fish.

In a news release, the department said most of the reports of sick and dead birds in the last two weeks have been snow geese and other waterfowl. That’s understandable, the department said, as HPAI is documented to coincide with seasonal migrations of these species and is expected this time of year.

Disease risk to humans and pets is low but can occur. While limited contact with dead birds is recommended, if carcasses must be removed,