The south arm of the Great Salt Lake has turned into a grim scene, with state wildlife biologists now estimating that more than 50,000 birds, overwhelmingly eared grebes, have died in the latest wave of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Carcasses are piling up along mudflats and beaches, triggering stepped-up monitoring from state teams and fresh worries about what this means for the lake’s fragile ecosystem. Officials are urging the public not to touch dead birds and to report any large die-offs to wildlife authorities.
The estimate, first reported by FOX13, comes from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, which believes roughly 50,000 eared grebes and about 250 California gulls were lost along the south arm in the most recent surge. Only a fraction of the carcasses have been tested so far, and the agency says shoreline surveys and lab work are ongoing to refine the numbers.
Official Counts And Testing
According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' avian influenza page, updated Feb. 13, a total of 242 wild birds, one mountain lion, some skunks, and three red foxes have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza in Utah since 2022. The virus has been confirmed in 19 counties. The DWR directs the public to an online dashboard for the latest lab-confirmed cases and asks people to report groups of five or more dead waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, or scavengers to local offices instead of attempting to handle carcasses themselves.
Why The Grebe Losses Look So Dramatic
The die-off looks huge in part because of just how critical the Great Salt Lake is for migrating birds. Roughly 4 million eared grebes migrate through the Great Salt Lake each year, Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program biologist John Neill told FOX13. Biologists also point out that the lake’s high salinity can preserve carcasses, which means the losses stay visible along the shoreline instead of quickly disappearing from view.
What It Means For People And Poultry
The DWR says the current strain poses a low risk to people, and typical backyard songbird feeders are not considered a major concern for most households. The virus can, however, reach backyard poultry through contaminated shoes, vehicles, or equipment. Per the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, state and federal teams have been responding to detections in commercial flocks and are urging strict biosecurity steps for both commercial and backyard birds.
Wildlife and agriculture officials say they are continuing surveillance and cleanup efforts around the lake while asking residents to report sizable die-offs to authorities. Ongoing surveys and testing will help determine whether this wave of avian flu is tapering off or if more bird deaths are likely as spring migration continues.
