Kansas biologists are monitoring reports of wild migrating birds being found dead in multiple parts of the state this month. Shane Hesting, Wildlife Disease Program Coordinator with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks says wild geese are being reported dead or dying in several wetlands and reservoirs across the state. He says it is wild migratory geese species like snow, Canada and ross varieties at several Kansas reservoirs.
He suspects the main culprit behind these deaths to be the bird flu, and this has been happening the past few years. Adding that snow geese are bringing it into Kansas now along with ducks like teal and mallards. The virus is in the birds and they shed the virus into water as they defecate, exposing more birds. The virus can remain viable in cold water for weeks. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been monitoring the bird flu this year in light of an increase in human cases of the virus, including a recent case where a child in California became infected.
