A bird flu outbreak has affected multiple areas in Wisconsin, with over a dozen birds suspected of having the disease being admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation center in the past week. The Wisconsin Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center received eight red-breasted mergansers, two herring gulls, and one great-horned owl, among others.
According to Mary Landry, wildlife rehabilitator at the center, “Severe cases” of bird flu have been getting into their facility, with many birds found dead or sick near Lake Michigan in Wisconsin and Illinois. The disease is highly contagious and often fatal in birds, with some reports also affecting mammals and rare cases involving humans.
The outbreak has raised concerns about the potential spread of the disease, with Landry stating that “some of them more inland” suggests a worsening situation. To report sick or injured birds, call (414) 431-6204.
Source: https://www.tmj4.com/news/milwaukee-county/wildlife-rehabilitator-explains-suspected-bird-flu-cases-in-wisconsin