The Pennsylvania Game Commission believes bird flu caused the deaths of 200 snow geese in the Lehigh Valley recently.
The game commission said in a news release Thursday that dead birds were recovered Monday from one site in Lower Nazareth Township and another in Upper Macungie Township.
Preliminary in-state testing showed the presence of highly pathogenic bird flu, according to the release. The game commission noted that results have not been confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture though.
The bird flu outbreak started in 2022 and has affected wild and domestic birds in every state in the country, according to the release. It can lead to sickness or death in raptors, such as hawks and eagles; scavengers such as crows, gulls and ravens; other waterfowl species like ducks and geese; and wild poultry like turkey and grouse.
Signs of infection include neurologic dysfunction such as circling, head tilting and difficulty flying, according to officials.
The game commission noted bird flu is particularly contagious and lethal to domestic poultry. It does not seem to have significantly affected the wild bird population, officials said.
The situation is ongoing, the commission noted, adding that sick wild birds were seen at both Lehigh Valley spots. Those who see sick or dead wild birds can report them to the game commission at 1-833-742-9453 or pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov.
Sick or dead domestic birds should be reported to the Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852.
The game commission said the flu can infect humans, but is primarily an animal issue. It is a low risk to the general public.
