With outbreaks of avian influenza, or bird flu, on the rise in the past year, some cases have been reported in Guthrie County.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jeremy King says that in early December he was contacted by Lake Panorama Security about the lake’s population of Canadian geese. He explains that they told him that several geese were sick, with some dying as well. King contacted wildlife biologists with the DNR, and had them come and check the birds, and was told that there was evidence of avian influenza.

King mentions that it is important that sick birds be noted, and if people come across a dead bird they shouldn’t touch them. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio they still would like to hear about outbreaks of sick or dead birds though.

“However, we are encouraging the public that if they see birds like this, that if they need to collect them or want to remove them, they can. We just suggest wearing rubber gloves, double bagging them. You can get ahold of the wildlife department. They can help give you some better pointers on what to do, those things. All those carcasses are being tested, so we are seeing a large number of Canada geese dying off that way.”

King explains that many birds will walk in circles or swing their head in circles if they are sick with avian influenza. He adds that he also received a call from a private lake east of Stuart that was seeing geese with these symptoms. King asks people to please be safe if they happen to see birds that appear sick.