Avian flu confirmed in Summit County wild birds amid virus uptick

A great horned owl and its owlet rest in a nest box in northern Utah. Photo: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

UTAH — The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has once again been circulating in Utah flocks, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources confirmed Friday. Canada geese and great horned owls are among the birds found to be affected so far in Summit County.

Multiple waves of the virus have affected Utah’s wild bird populations since the first case of this latest outbreak was confirmed in April 2022. Now, the virus has again been detected in wild birds around the Great Salt Lake and several other counties in the latest uptick of the outbreak.

The outbreak has been ongoing throughout the US since 2022, but scientists have found that the disease typically spreads more during the spring and fall bird migrations.

The most common wild birds impacted by the virus are typically waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and scavengers (which include birds like hawks, owls, and vultures).

Songbirds are not typically affected by avian flu, due to low risk of contact with infected birds.

The DWR noted that people shouldn’t have to remove their bird feeders unless they also have backyard chickens, domestic ducks or wild waterfowl on their property. However, those with a bird feeder or birdbath, should clean it regularly.

Officials are also asked those who find a group of five or more dead waterfowl or shorebirds or any individual dead scavengers or raptors to report it to the nearest DWR office.

Since October, 49 wild bird carcasses collected from across Utah have been submitted for disease testing and tested positive for avian influenza. The birds most impacted by the latest influx of avian flu cases are:

• Eared grebes in Box Elder, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele and Weber counties
• California gulls in Salt Lake County
• Canada geese in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Iron, Sevier, Salt Lake, Summit, Utah, Washington and Weber counties
• Ducks in Box Elder and Davis counties
• Great horned owls in Box Elder, Davis, Summit and Weber counties
• Hawks in Box Elder, Davis and Weber Counties
• Swans in Cache and Salt Lake counties
• Turkey vultures in Box Elder and Weber counties

DWR biologists estimate that roughly 50,000 eared grebes and 250 California gulls have died along the south arm of the Great Salt Lake during this latest influx of avian influenza

“Roughly 4 million eared grebes migrate through the Great Salt Lake each year, so the birds lost to avian influenza in this recent wave should not have a significant impact on the overall population,” DWR Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program Wildlife Biologist John Neill said.

Since 2022, 242 wild birds, one mountain lion, some skunks and three red foxes have tested positive for avian flu in Utah, which has been confirmed in 19 counties.

For more information about the current avian flu outbreak in wild birds, visit the DWR website. You can also view all the latest cases of avian flu in wild animals on the DWR website.

To report any symptoms of avian flu in domestic birds, contact the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. For information about possible human health impacts, visit the Utah Department of Human Services website.