The Waterfowl hunting season kicked off on the 1st of the month. Yet the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is concerned about the spread of bird flu. The Eurasian strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as H5N1, continues to impact wild and domestic birds statewide. The CDFW is recommending you take precautions to limit the spread of infection.
Since mid-July, the flu has been detected in 66 wild birds from 19 counties, including Butte, Placer, Plumas, and Siskiyou. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has also reported detections of H5N1 in domestic birds in Butte, down to Contra Costa County.
Avian influenza spreads through direct bird-to-bird contact and may also apply to birds through contaminated surfaces, including hands, shoes, clothing, and gear like vehicle tires and decoys.
While the Centers for Disease Control considers the transmission risk of avian influenza to people low, they recommend precautions to keep your pets and other birds safe by washing your gear and clothing, bathing your hunting dogs, and storing harvested birds at 45 degrees.
Visit the CDFW website for more information.
