By Folks who have taken a stroll around Wylie Lake recently have probably noticed the bodies of geese lying close to shore or on the thin sheet of ice that remains on the lake.
The reason has nothing to do with the water or what they’re eating. Instead it’s the result of geese that come in contact with other fowl carrying avian influenza.
MORE: Harris Machine to open manufacturing plant in Aberdeen
Nick Cochran, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks conservation officer for Brown County, said what residents are seeing this year is a continuation of what also happened in spring 2022. It’s a problem in other parts of the state, too, he said.
A common carrier of avian influenza, or bird flu, is snow geese, Cochran said. So when they interact with other birds like Canada geese or ducks, those animals also get sick. But, he said, the virus isn’t jumping to other species or to humans.
Dead geese along the shore at Wylie Lake are the result of coming in contact with other birds infected with avian influenza. Aberdeen Insider photo by Elisa Sand
Birds might be building an immunity to avian flu
Since the number of birds affected is decreasing, Cochran said it appears birds are building an immunity.
Cochran said the birds are collected by Wylie Park staff as they get close to shore.
On other lakes that still have ice, birds are congregating more in open water or in fields, so Wylie is one of few lakes seeing a problem with dead geese.
MORE: Tishkevich skates from Minsk to Aberdeen for hockey
Also attributing to the lower number of dead birds is that geese aren’t congregating in large groups, he said.
In March, GFP issued a news release about the highly pathogenic avian influenza and how it has been detected in both domestic poultry and wild birds. The flu occurs in all bird populations, according to the release, with the current strain appearing in Canada geese, snow geese and other waterfowl.
Citizens asked to report sick, dead birds
Citizens are asked to report sick birds or birds that have died of unknown causes to [email protected] or reach out to local conservation officers. Cochran said raptors like hawks or eagles can get sick if they eat the dead birds.
For more information about Avian influenza, go to gfp.sd.gov/avian-flu/.
Because so many birds have died or been killed as the result of bird flu, the cost of eggs and chickens has spiked at grocery stores. U.S. Mike Rounds, R-.S.D., also recently said the flu could affect pheasant populations.