Three More Utah Counties Report Cases Of Avian Flu

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in several new counties since November 2024, marking a significant development in the ongoing outbreak. First detected in wild birds in Utah in April 2022, the virus has now been confirmed in 16 counties statewide, with Box Elder, Emery, and San Juan recently added to the list.

According to DWR Veterinarian Ginger Stout in a press release, “We saw a lull in new avian flu cases in wild birds from January 2024 to November 2024, but since last fall, we have seen another uptick in new cases across Utah.” Since November, 25 wild bird carcasses tested positive for the virus, affecting species like geese, hawks, gulls, owls, and eared grebes. The virus has led to the deaths of an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 eared grebes along the Great Salt Lake, although only a few carcasses were formally tested.

DWR

Despite the large number of deaths, the overall population of eared grebes, which includes roughly 4 million migrating birds through the Great Salt Lake annually, is not expected to be significantly impacted. “The salinity of the Great Salt Lake almost ‘pickles’ the carcasses, so they don’t decompose or get scavenged like they would in a freshwater environment. The birds will likely continue to wash ashore in the coming months,” said John Luft, DWR Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program Manager.

The outbreak has also affected mammals, including skunks, red foxes, and one mountain lion. Since 2022, 122 wild birds and several mammals have tested positive for avian flu in Utah.

DWR emphasizes that while songbirds are generally unaffected, precautions should still be taken, especially if domestic poultry is nearby. Cleaning bird feeders and birdbaths regularly is recommended. “The outbreak is still ongoing,” Stout noted. “Report any group of five or more dead waterfowl or shorebirds, or individual dead scavengers or raptors, to the nearest DWR office.”

DWR