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Published on January 13, 2025
Arizona Hunters and Falconers Urged to Take Precautions Amid Bird Flu Cases in Maricopa and Pima CountiesSource: Cybercobra at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

With avian influenza, more commonly known as bird flu, rearing its head in Arizona, state officials are calling on local hunters and falconers to adopt stricter safety measures when engaging with their feathered quarry. Anne Justice-Allen, the state wildlife veterinarian for Arizona Game and Fish detailed the reappearance of the virus in domestic poultry in Maricopa and Pima counties, as well as in wild geese from a Scottsdale park and an owl admitted to a wildlife rehabilitation facility. The bird flu has reportedly been quiet until these recent detections, as per 12news.

In response to the developing situation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department issued guidelines aimed specifically at hunters, who might inadvertently become agents in the spread of the virus. Explaining the risks, Justice-Allen pointed out that the primary concern isn't necessarily the hunters contracting the virus, but their potential role in transporting it. “Casual visitors to parks and things like that they should not be concerned with picking up avian influenza," Justice-Allen told 12news. She recommends caution, particularly about falconers and their birds, and discloses that while avian flu hasn't been detected in dogs and cats in the state, cases have popped up in California's feline population.

The recent U.S. death of a 65-year-old man in Louisiana, infected by a chicken flock, has intensified attention on avian flu's human transmission, though such cases remain extremely rare. Arizonans felt the virus's proximity when two Pinal County workers tested positive following an outbreak in local poultry, as reported by AZCentral. The presence of the virus in the wastewater of Maricopa County further amplifies the need for vigilance.

Bird flu, mainly spread by dabbling ducks in Arizona, often goes unnoticed as these birds rarely show symptoms. However, infected birds might display odd behaviors like swimming in circles, stumbling, or struggling to fly. Similar signs can appear in domestic poultry. If you notice illness in a flock of wild birds or find three or more dead wild birds, report it immediately to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) by emailing [email protected] or calling their 24-hour hotline at 623-236-7201, as noted by AZCentral.