What Montanans Should Do When They Find Dead Birds

• Beginning in July, about the time migrating waterfowl arrive in Montana, citizens will be able to report sick or dead birds via a toll free phone number, or online at FWP's Avian Influenza website.
• Routine investigation of disease in wild birds offers wildlife professionals the best opportunity to detect the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus if it is introduced into Montana by migratory birds.
• Montana's primary focus will be on migrating birds from Alaskan, and possibly eastern Russian, breeding areas.  Those birds typically don't start arriving in Montana until late July and August.
• Increased vigilance and timely reporting of unusual events by the public will greatly enhance disease investigations in the state. Reports of sick and dead wild birds of particular species will be investigated by FWP.
• FWP plans to test for avian flu during all routine investigations of multiple wild bird die-offs. Some wetlands commonly experience botulism outbreaks in late summer, resulting in isolated waterfowl and shorebird die-offs.  These will be investigated and provide opportunities for sampling. 
• If multiple sick or dead shorebirds or waterfowl are reported, FWP will investigate and, when appropriate, samples will be sent to diagnostic laboratories to test for diseases including avian flu.

For more information, on wild birds and avian influenza visit FWP's Avian Influenza website. For information on pandemic flu preparations visit Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.