Avian flu
Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have caused the death of many wild and domestic birds in Oregon since 2022. Here's what hunters and others need to know about the disease.
What makes this outbreak different?
Low pathogenic strains of avian flu naturally circulate in wild waterfowl and typically do not kill wild birds. Historically, detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains have been less common and mostly affected domestic poultry and some raptors before being replaced by a low pathogenic strain.
However, the avian flu virus changed in North America starting in 2021 when a European strain subsequently combined with our North American strain to create the current more lethal highly pathogenic H5N1 strain. This strain causes sickness and death in wild birds especially geese, shorebirds, raptors and scavengers such as vultures in addition to domestic poultry. The virus has affected at least 173 different species of birds worldwide. HPAI has caused millions of bird deaths with more than 15,000 confirmed deaths in North America during the current outbreak. A variety of other wildlife have also been impacted including coyotes, foxes, raccoons, wild cats, bears, and skunks that have likely fed on infected birds. Marine mammals have also been impacted in North and South America.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
Lethargy, inability to fly, erratic behavior, loss of coordination, cloudy eyes, swimming in circles, head shaking. Birds typically die within 72 hours of showing clinical signs.
Where has the disease been detected?
As of January 2025, this strain of avian flu is widespread and has been detected in nearly every Oregon county. Wildlife managers have seen many juvenile Cackling geese and snow geese killed by this virus strain in Oregon, as well as bald eagles, several owl species and other scavenging and predatory birds of prey.
What should I do if I see sick or dead birds?
Do not handle or transport sick or dead birds. ODFW cannot test every dead bird but may want to test birds in locations where multiple birds have died and the disease has not yet been detected.
Contact ODFW's Wildlife Health Lab at 866-968-2600 or odfw.wildlifehealth@odfw.oregon.gov if you see multiple dead birds in the same location.
If you are at a refuge, wildlife area or on other public land, report dead birds to the land manager.
How do I dispose of dead birds?
Do not transport or move dead birds as that could spread the disease.
But if the dead birds are in your yard, you can double bag them and put them in trash. Wear gloves so you don’t directly touch any sick birds.
If you are in the field on your own property, you can also bury deceased wildlife.
Hunters who encounter sick birds while hunting should not kill those birds or allow retrieving dogs to interact with sick or dead birds.
Wildlife areas, refuges and other public land managers are handling disposal of dead birds on their lands.
How can I protect my backyard chickens or other domestic poultry?
If you are returning from a hunting trip or area where you had contact with other wild or domestic birds, change your shoes and clothing and wash your hands before contact with domestic poultry. See ODA's Avian Influenza website for other biosecurity measures and information.
Can people catch avian flu?
The risk of this strain of avian flu to people is low. There have been multiple confirmed human cases in the United States, the majority originating from commercial agriculture operations. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides updated information on human cases of HPAI.
Hunters and others should take precautions:
• Do not harvest birds that are obviously sick or found dead.
• Wear rubber or latex gloves when handling and cleaning game birds.
• Do not eat, drink, smoke or touch your face when handling birds.
• Keep the uncooked game bird meat and its juices away from other foods.
• Thoroughly clean knives and any other equipment or surfaces that touch birds. Use a solution of one third cup of chlorine bleach per one gallon of water.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling birds (or with alcohol-based hand products if your hands are not visibly soiled).
• Cook all game meat thoroughly (up to at least 165° F) to kill disease organisms including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Use a food thermometer to ensure the inside of the bird has reached at least 165° F.
Is my dog at risk?
There are no known cases of domestic dogs becoming sickened by contact with sick birds. But hunters should not feed dogs any raw meat, organs or other tissue from harvested waterfowl or allow retrieving dogs to interact with sick or dead birds.
A domestic outdoor cat in Washington county, Oregon tested positive for HPAI in January 2025 after being exposed to wild waterfowl. Please keep your pets safe by keeping cats indoors. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect that your pet is sick.
Are songbirds at risk and should I take down by bird feeder?
Avian flu has been detected in a few songbirds in North America but there are not reports of large outbreaks due to limited interaction of songbirds with potentially infected waterfowl. The songbird deaths we see in Oregon during the winter are primarily due to other bird diseases passed at birdfeeders. It is a a good practice to keep your bird feeders clean and take them down if birds are dying at the feeder or in your neighborhood. Dirty feeders commonly transmit salmonella, E. coli, viruses, parasites and other diseases among songbirds.
Can sick birds be taken to a wildlife rehabilitator?
No. There is not a cure for avian flu. Currently rehabilitators in Oregon are advised to not accept waterfowl with bird flu symptoms due to the risk of the disease spreading to other birds in their facilities. However, waterfowl and shorebirds with obvious injuries (broken wing, leg injury) will be evaluated by wildlife rehabilitators on a case-by-case basis.
What kind of impact will this have on bird populations?
Observations to date suggest that most of the mortality in goose populations are juvenile geese, or birds hatched the previous summer. At high enough levels, this mortality could depress recruitment of juveniles into the breeding population, which has the potential to reduce populations over time.
Check out the Recreation Report
Current conditions and opportunities to hunt, fish and see wildlife. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state.