In the wake of an unsettling discovery along the Shiawassee River, experts are leaning toward avian influenza as the culprit behind dozens of dead geese in Shiawassee County, Michigan. According to a statement obtained by ABC12, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently awaiting test results to confirm the cause of death but suspects highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as bird flu, is to blame.
Local hunter Kolton Beckman was one of the first to note the drastic reduction of geese in a field usually bustling with the birds. "I rolled back to the roost near Owosso, where most of the geese sit. And that's when I discovered anywhere from 30 to 50 dead geese in a pile," Beckman told ABC12. The DNR's laboratory manager, Melinda Cosgrove, reiterated the recommendation for people to avoid contact with any birds that appear sick or dead.
The problem has not only alarmed local hunters; it's also prompted city officials to take action. Nathan Henne, the Owosso city manager, explained that workers have been performing cleanups along the public portions of the riverbank to remove the dead birds. He advised their employees to wear gloves and a face mask when handling the carcasses, detailed in an interview with WNEM.
Across five counties, there have been confirmed cases of bird flu, with a possibility of more as investigations continue. While waiting for test results from the latest deaths, the Michigan DNR has noted 36 positive cases as of September 2024, with the majority found in Ionia County, as reported by WILX. Kaitlyn Barnes, a waterfowl specialist, stated, "But then when they do come in contact with another bird or whatever that is naive to the virus and they do succumb to it, then we can see this uptick of it."
Meanwhile, the implications of this suspected outbreak extend beyond wildlife. The agriculture industry, specifically domestic poultry farming, stands to suffer from potential cross-contamination. Additionally, shoppers are already feeling the impact at the checkout point, with the average price of eggs nationwide climbing to $4.15. The DNR continues to encourage the public to report any sightings of six or more dead geese, a process vital for monitoring and controlling the suspected outbreak.
