LOGAN – Box Elder County is one of three new counties that reported new cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in November of 2024.
This the first time the bird flu was discovered in the county.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has confirmed the virus has also been detected in wild birds in Emery and San Juan since November 2024.
The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza hit the U.S. in 2022, and typically more actively spreads during the spring and fall bird migrations. In Utah, the virus has now been confirmed in 16 counties since 2022.
DWR Veterinarian Ginger Stout said Utah saw a lull in new avian flu cases in wild birds from January 2024 to November 2024. But since last fall, the state has seen another uptick in new cases. across Utah.
“The outbreak is still ongoing, so we are still advising anyone who finds 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. Make sure you don’t touch the birds or pick them up,” Stout said. “Report it to us, and we will come collect them for testing. We are continuing to monitor this virus in wild bird populations. This particular strain is affecting more wild birds and is more widespread than the last outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the U.S.”
Since November 25 the birds most impacted by the latest influx of avian flu cases have been geese (both snow and Canada geese), hawks, gulls, owls (both barn and great horned owls) and eared grebes. DWR biologists have confirmed that roughly 15,000 to 20,000 eared grebes have died along the Great Salt Lake, primarily due to avian influenza.
DWR Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program Manager John Luft said roughly 4 million eared grebes migrate through the Great Salt Lake each year, so the number that died from avian influenza should not have a significant impact on the overall population.
“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,” he said. “The birds will likely continue to wash ashore in the coming months.”
As of Feb. 10, 2025, besides 122 wild birds that tested positive for the avian flu there have been one mountain lion, some skunks and three red foxes in Utah since 2022.
Here is a list of counties in Utah that have been hit hard with avian flu:
- Box Elder
- Cache
- Carbon
- Davis
- Emery
- Millard
- Salt Lake
- San Juan
- Tooele
- Weber
The Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses has proven to be very contagious among wild birds and can cause rapid and the high mortality rate in domestic birds, such as chickens, turkeys and domestic ducks has effected the egg industry as well.
Typically, waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and scavengers like hawks, owls, ravens and vultures are also in the bullseye of the virus. While there are few symptoms in waterfowl and shorebirds, the virus can kill raptors and scavengers quickly.
Songbirds are not typically affected by avian flu, so people shouldn’t have to remove their bird feeders unless they also have backyard chickens or domestic ducks, which are susceptible to the virus. However, if you have a bird feeder or birdbath, you should clean it regularly.
The last outbreak of avian flu in the U.S. occurred in 2014–15, when highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza were detected in wild birds of the Pacific, Central and Mississippi flyways. During that outbreak, the virus was only detected in two healthy ducks in Utah.
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.