The death of about 200 snow geese in the Allentown area last week has Pennsylvania Game Commission officials concerned about migrating populations at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, which annually draws thousands of visitors to view the spectacular scene.
Dead birds were recovered from two sites in the greater Allentown area, the Game Commission said in a release. One group was found in Lower Nazareth Township in Northampton County and the other in Upper Macungie Township in Lehigh County. Avian influenza (AI) is the suspected cause of death, officials said in the release.
“Preliminary in-state testing indicated the presence of highly pathogenic AI (HPAI),” the release said. The results are yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture; however, the release noted, “the situation is ongoing as sick wild birds were also observed at both locations.”
State Game Warden Dustin M. Stoner, information and education supervisor for the Game Commission’s Southeast Region, which includes the Middle Creek area, told LebTown that they are keeping an eye on things at the popular game preserve that straddles the border between Lebanon and Lancaster counties.
“Our staff monitor snow goose population numbers at Middle Creek twice weekly,” he said in an email. “Additionally, we have staff moving about the property every day and will certainly be on the lookout for any signs of HPAI. We have posted signage throughout Middle Creek to inform the visiting public about HPAI and what to do if they observe suspect wild bird species.”
Fortunately, “no signs of HPAI have been observed at Middle Creek thus far,” Stoner added.
“At this point the only special precautions directed towards visitors of Middle Creek are to report concerns about sick or injured wildlife to the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 833-PGC-WILD and strongly advise that people should not touch or handle sick, dying or dead birds,” he said.
Each year, tens of thousands of snow geese migrating north stop at Middle Creek’s central 400-acre lake en route to their summer breeding grounds in the Arctic. Countless visitors come from far and wide to see the annual spectacle.
Last year, Middle Creek was visited by approximately 70,000 snow geese at peak on Feb. 24, 2024. Tundra swans and Canada geese also stop at Middle Creek during their annual migration northwards to breeding grounds. Typically, birds begin to arrive in late February or early March, but timing and numbers are highly variable depending on weather conditions.
The Game Commission said in its release that anyone who spots sick or injured wildlife can also email their concerns to pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov. Further, the release said, “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.”
Read More: Still time to catch the tens of thousands of snow geese flocking at Middle Creek
The outbreak of HPAI began in the United States in January 2022. Since then, the disease has impacted wild and domestic birds in every state, the Game Commission noted.
“Wild waterfowl and shorebirds are considered natural reservoirs for avian influenza viruses,” the release explains. “While infected birds may shed the virus in their feces and saliva despite appearing healthy, HPAI 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). Clinical signs of infection in wild birds are often non-specific but may include neurologic dysfunction such as circling, head tilting, and difficulty flying.”
HPAI is “particularly contagious and lethal to domestic poultry,” the release further cautions. “HPAI does not appear to significantly impacted (sic) wild bird populations; however, it does have the potential to significantly affect the commercial poultry industry and international trade.”
Stoner referred questions about local poultry concerns to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which responded to a request for comment with a statement about state Farm Show precautions.
“There have been no infections in commercial poultry in Pennsylvania since February 2024,” the release from press secretary Shannon Powers said. “The last confirmed infection was in a backyard flock of 20 birds in Venango County in October 2024. None of these birds were producing eggs or products used or sold beyond that farm.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website lists the following symptoms to watch for in domestic birds:
- Sudden death without any prior symptoms of illness
- Lack of energy and appetite
- A drop in egg production or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs
- Swelling of the eyelids, comb, wattles, and shanks
- Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
- Gasping for air (difficulty breathing)
- Nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing
- Twisting of the head and neck (torticollis)
- Stumbling or falling down
- Diarrhea
Producers or owners who suspect the presence of avian flu should contact their veterinarian to evaluate their flock, the USDA says.
The USDA website also notes that avian influenza viruses spread through direct, bird-to-bird contact, as well as through contaminated surfaces or materials such as manure, egg flats, crates, or other farming materials and equipment, and people’s clothing, shoes, or hands. The agency offers tips for improving a flock’s “biosecurity” on the website.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission said in its release that it continues to work with both the state and federal ag departments, the Wildlife Futures Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System to monitor wild and domestic bird populations for HPAI.
The Game Commission notes that owners of domestic birds should “always prevent contact between their birds and wild birds to prevent the spread of disease.” While HPAI can potentially infect humans, the current outbreak is primarily an animal health issue that poses low risk to the health of the general public, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Officials encourage “common sense practices” to reduce the risk to humans and the animals under their care. For instance:
- Observe wildlife from a safe distance.
- Avoid contacting surfaces that may be contaminated with feces from wild or domestic birds.
- Do not handle wildlife unless you are hunting, trapping, or otherwise authorized to do so.
- Waterfowl hunters should take precautions while handling and dressing birds such as wearing nitrile gloves, protective eye wear, and a mask.
- Report wildlife that is sick or displays signs of sickness to the Game Commission.
Read More: Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area building new wildlife viewing platform
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