Animal Diseases (original) (raw)

Avian Influenza - Winter 2025

The Wildlife Health Program is monitoring the occurrence and impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) across the state. You can report suspected HPAI bird mortalities to DEC through this site:

Avian influenza (AI) is a viral disease in wild birds such as ducks and geese, gulls, raptors, and shorebirds that is commonly called “bird flu.” Some AI viruses are more severe than others and can also affect domestic gamebirds and poultry like chickens, turkeys, and other birds. Those that cause severe disease in poultry are called Highly Pathogenic AI (HPAI) viruses. These viruses can spread quickly in affected flocks.

In early 2022, HPAI was detected in wild birds across several eastern states. In February 2022, the first case of HPAI in New York was found in Suffolk County. At present, HPAI has been detected across the entire country including much of New York State. Some infected wild birds carry the virus without getting sick, which allowed the virus to continue to circulate in bird populations. Mammals, especially carnivores and scavengers that may eat infected animals have become ill and died from HPAI. Dairy cattle in some states have also had HPAI detected. The USDA tracks all detections across the country and offers guidance on how to Defend the Flock.

NYSDEC is working with the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets, U.S. Department of Agriculture, NYS Department of Health, and the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab to monitor HPAI in New York.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that HPAI detections in birds pose a low risk to the public. There have been a number of human cases in the United States, mostly associated with infections in dairy cattle or poultry, and one human mortality attributed to contact with birds. Hunters and people consuming wild game birds have a low risk of becoming infected, but you can protect yourself by only harvesting game that appears healthy. Cook any game meat to an internal temperature of 165° F, which kills the virus. If you handle live or dead wild birds, particularly waterfowl, gulls, and raptors, you should use personal protective equipment like masks, gloves, eye protection, and rubber boots (cleaned after use). Wash your hands thoroughly when finished.

Of particular interest are reports of suspected outbreaks in all species of waterfowl (like ducks or geese), raptors (such as hawks and eagles), crows, shorebirds, and other waterbirds such as gulls, loons, and herons. Responses to these reports will be guided by the number of dead birds, bird species, and new areas where we have not documented HPAI yet. Once HPAI is on the landscape, there is currently no way to effectively manage this disease in wild birds. In most cases, there will be no direct response.

DEC advises the public to avoid any contact with sick or dead birds and mammals that may be infected with HPAI. People can minimize the risk of spreading HPAI by preventing contact between sick or dead wildlife and domestic animals.

In cases where DEC field staff are not responding to collect samples or carcasses from the landscape, please limit direct contact with dead wildlife and keep children and pets away. To dispose of a dead bird safely:

For more information about the risk of HPAI to humans, visit the NYS Department of Health website.

If you encounter a live, sick bird or mammal, contact your Regional DEC office or a local wildlife rehabilitator for guidance. There is no treatment for HPAI in birds, so the only option for wildlife rehabilitators is humane euthanasia. Call ahead to make sure there is a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian willing to accept and euthanize the animal, as accepting these animals may put other animals in the facility at risk. Do NOT handle, transport or euthanize any sick birds or other wildlife yourself.

COVID-19 and White-tailed Deer

Recent studies by USDA found that white-tailed deer may carry COVID-19 antibodies (an indication they had been exposed to the virus) or may carry the virus itself. Work in New York found 18% of samples collected here had SARS-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19) antibodies. Field samples were collected opportunistically, so may not accurately reflect overall exposure rates in free-ranging deer. It is not known how free-ranging deer were exposed to the virus, but it is speculated that it could have been through people, the environment, other deer, or another animal species.

There is no evidence that animals, including deer, are playing a significant role in the spread of COVID-19, and based on existing evidence the risk to people from animals is low. Most people will not come into direct contact with wildlife and "best practices" for interacting with wildlife that existed pre-COVID still apply - if you care, leave it there. If wildlife is injured or trapped in a place it should not be, contact a regional wildlife office, wildlife rehabilitator, or nuisance wildlife control operator.

Continuing to follow "best practices" is also true for hunters and trappers who may harvest deer or other game. Wear gloves when field dressing and processing game, carefully wash hands, and disinfect equipment afterwards. Hunters and trappers should also consider wearing a face mask when field dressing or processing game.

People like wildlife rehabilitators and captive deer owners who come in to direct contact with wild or captive deer should limit contact when and where possible and follow proper biosecurity procedures when direct contact needs to occur such as wearing gloves and a face mask, thoroughly washing hands before and after contact, and properly disinfecting equipment.

The best form of protection from COVID-19 infection is to get vaccinated, and when eligible, to get a booster.

Safety Recommendations for Hunters and Trappers

Hunters and trappers are likely to have close, direct contact with wildlife during field-dressing, butchering, and skinning. Hunters and trappers should use the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to prevent exposure. These precautions offer protection from COVID-19 as well as other viruses, bacteria, or parasites that might be present in deer or furbearers (rabies, Tularemia, etc.).

Recommendations to Limit Exposure to COVID-19 and Other Viruses, Bacteria, or Parasites:

For more information visit these websites:

Songbird Illness Update - Summer 2021

An unknown illness that is affecting young songbirds (grackles, blue jays, robins and starlings) in states to the south and west of New York has been receiving a lot of interest. DEC is actively examining potential cases reported by the public. To date there is no evidence of bird mortality in New York due to this illness. As the disease begins to decline elsewhere we anticipate it will not become a factor affecting birds in the state. We will remain diligent in monitoring our bird populations for signs of the disease and continue to stay informed on the status of the disease in other eastern states.

For the latest songbird illness updates, visit these webpages:

New York State Wildlife Health Program

The New York State Cooperative Wildlife Health Program (WHP) is a partnership between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Bureau of Wildlife and Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory that works to safeguard the long-term health of the wildlife populations of New York.

Wildlife Diseases

Information on several wildlife diseases can be found in the left column. Additional wildlife disease fact sheets can be found on the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab webpage. They were developed by the New York State Cooperative Wildlife Health Program. These fact sheets may be downloaded as PDFs.

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a fatal virus that affects rabbits and hares. A new strain, RHDV2, was identified in 2010. In 2020, RHDV2 jumped to wild rabbits and hares in the southwestern U.S., where it spread to six states within four months. It can infect wild rabbits and hares in addition to domestic rabbits. RHDV2 is extremely hardy, easily transmitted, and highly lethal to rabbits and hares. The most likely routes of introduction to New York are through transported domestic rabbits, internationally imported rabbit products, or people who travel to outbreak areas in the Southwest.

As of August 2024, the disease has been documented in wild rabbit or hare populations in 14 Western states and continues to gradually spread eastward.

Cases in domestic rabbits were detected in New York in 2020 and 2021, and in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania in 2022.

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