Fall bird migration has begun, and now is the time to review and reimplement biosecurity protocols to reduce disease transmission from wild to domestic birds.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a disease carried by wild birds that can affect domestic birds. Avian influenza is caused by the influenza Type A virus (influenza A). The virus is shed in the feces and respiratory secretions of infected birds and is able to survive for weeks in cool, damp environments.
Migration can be followed via BirdCast (https://birdcast.info/), an online real-time migration prediction tool.
NDSU Extension specialists have prepared a list of guidelines and resources for reducing transmission of HPAI from wildlife to domestic birds:
- If possible, keep poultry housed until the risk for transmission has decreased. Non-lethal methods to deter wildlife are available on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Service’s nonlethal initiative webpage: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife-services/about/nonlethal.
- Reduce the attractiveness for wildlife to stop at your place by cleaning up litter and spilled feed around your domestic flock housing.
- If you come in contact with or handle wildlife, change into clean clothes, wash your hands and disinfect your footwear prior to contact with domestic flocks.
- Report sick or deceased wildlife to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at https://bit.ly/mortality-report.
- In the event you need to handle or dispose of carcasses to reduce potential interactions, be sure to follow the appropriate procedures: ndsu.ag/hpai.
“The best defense against HPAI is having a biosecurity plan in place,” says Mary Keena, NDSU Extension livestock environmental management specialist. “It is your job as a flock owner to create a line of separation between your clean flock and the potential unclean issues that wildlife or visitors may bring.”…