Late season Hazards for the Birds

W

Wolfchief

Well-known member
I've been concerned about the bird flu around here (Northern Indiana) because the DNR has stated that there have been a number (I believe over 100) dead Sandhill cranes that have died from the bird flu. This has happened not more than 10-15 miles from my home. I am wondering if any of you out West--specifically in the Pierre SD and Lewistown MT. areas have seen any game bird losses from bird flu.
Also, it was reported today here on the news that areas of the Northern Plains are getting or will get hit with a late winter blizzard; that can't be good for the pheasants. Again, for the Pierre-Gettysburg areas in SD and the Lewistown area in MT., are you experiencing this? Just curious.
 
I've never heard of pheasants being affected by bird flu. That's not to say they haven't been, but if so, the effect must've been negligible.

As for the blizzard, I think they're mostly calling it that because travel conditions could be bad briefly. It looks like much of pheasant country can expect at most a few inches of snow, & then we'll get back to warmer weather quickly. Any snow should disappear in a hurry.
 
In today's local TV newscast there was a segment on the continuing bird flu problems this area has. It has infected geese at local white collar work campuses--medical, professional and insurance complexes with the ubiquitous ornamental ponds-- and several dozen of those birds have died. Officials from the DNR caution that if the dead birds are handled, it must be with gloves, face masks and after-chore disinfectants. According to the DNR "gurus", the disease is particularly infectious to poultry (no surprise there) and cats but apparently not so toxic to dogs.
This news would seem to be a growing concern for wild waterfowl but I've seen no mention--so far--of any bird flu in pheasants.
This appears to be something we should keep our eyes on as the spring and summer progresses.
 
Wolfchief said:
I've been concerned about the bird flu around here (Northern Indiana) because the DNR has stated that there have been a number (I believe over 100) dead Sandhill cranes that have died from the bird flu. This has happened not more than 10-15 miles from my home. I am wondering if any of you out West--specifically in the Pierre SD and Lewistown MT. areas have seen any game bird losses from bird flu.
Also, it was reported today here on the news that areas of the Northern Plains are getting or will get hit with a late winter blizzard; that can't be good for the pheasants. Again, for the Pierre-Gettysburg areas in SD and the Lewistown area in MT., are you experiencing this? Just curious.
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Lewistown almost always gets an April big snowstorm.
 
BRITTMAN said:
Never heard of a pheasant hatchery being impacted by bird flu.
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Last year there was one in PA that got infected. Possibly one in Kansas but I wouldn’t swear to that. Difference in hatchery versus wild would mainly be the number of birds in close proximity to each other.

Here is a snip from that announcement.
Due to a detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at Martz's Game Farm in Northumberland County, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is adjusting its late-season pheasant stocking program to protect its pheasant program and ensure its continuation in the 2024-25 hunting seasons.
 
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