As spring arrives in Montana, wildlife officials are reminding residents to be vigilant about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, as migratory birds return to the state.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is asking people to take precautions when recreating outdoors this season to help prevent the spread of the disease.
"We know it's still here, we know it's continuing, but it's just as important that we take steps to prevent the spread to ourselves, to our domestic animals, and continue that monitoring to know what that disease prevalence and distribution looks like," said FWP spokesman Morgan Jacobsen.
Watch the full story:
FWP officials are asking anyone spending time outdoors this spring to be on the lookout for birds, particularly flocks, whether living or dead.
"River channels, community ponds are another place, as well as agricultural areas. So oftentimes these are places where people are out recreating, so be on the lookout for that," Jacobsen said.
To help prevent the spread of HPAI, Jacobsen reminds pet owners to keep their animals away from wild birds—both for the birds' safety and their pets' well-being.
"If you have a pet with you like your dog, make sure you keep your dog away from those wild birds, especially if there are dead birds on the landscape. Avoid that contact," Jacobsen advised. "Depending on what you find, if you see multiple dead birds in an area, call Fish, Wildlife and Parks and let us know."
FWP will evaluate each reported situation to determine if further investigation is warranted. The Montana Department of Livestock also has additional information about avian influenza and tips for keeping it away from domestic animals.
This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
