By Mary Lacy
Northside News
Late in December 2024, the carcass of a juvenile bald eagle was found on the golf course of Maple Bluff Country Club. According to a post on the Wild Warner Facebook page, grounds staff at the club found the carcass on the golf course and called the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
According to an email from Sharon Fandel, field ecologist for the DNR, test results detected the presence of the HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) H5 virus. The most likely way this eagle was infected was from scavenging infected waterfowl. The email went on to list other areas in the state where the HPAI H5 virus has been detected in wild birds, indicating this virus is not confined to poultry facilities.
This eagle had been exhibiting strange behavior before it was found dead; hanging upside down from tree branches, spending time on the ground, and not flying very far.
If you see a sick or dead wild bird, do not handle it yourself. Contact the DNR Wildlife Switchboard via email at DNRWildlifeSwitchboard@wisconsin.gov or phone 608-267-0866. Indicate the species, number of animals, whether they are sick or dead, the location, and your contact information. You can also use the sick or dead bird reporting form, which can be found at dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/wildlifehealth.
To find out more about the HPAI H5 virus in Wisconsin, check the WIDNR Avian Influenza webpage at dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/disease/Avianinfluenza.
