IDNR monitoring for avian 'Flu' during fall bird migration
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November 1, 2023
The morning walking club at Staunton Elementary is tracking their distance from state capital to state capital. The first destination was Little Rock, Ark., which may have been the birth place of cheese dip. These students, who filled in their punch card on the way to Little Rock, helped physical education teacher Holly Weller and elementary principal Rachel Davis celebrate by having a cheese dip party.
With the regular waterfowl seasons about to open this fall, the Ill. Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is reminding hunters to be aware that they could encounter highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, again this year.
IDNR will monitor for outbreaks of HPAI during the fall bird migration. Members of the public are encouraged to report large concentrations of 20 or more deceased birds found one location. Reports can be made to the local IDNR district wildlife biologist. IDNR first announced HPAI was detected in wild Canada geese in Ill. in March 2022 in a joint notice with the Ill. Department of Agriculture.
IDNR reminds waterfowl hunters to take precautions by thoroughly cooking game meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Hunters also should avoid handling sick or dead waterfowl found in the field, and they should not allow dogs or other pets to consume waterfowl that died from unknown causes.
Rubber gloves and a mask should be worn when disposing of any deceased wild birds, and carcasses should be double-bagged in sealed plastic bags.
Anyone handling deceased birds should thoroughly wash their hands and any other clothing or toils with soap and water following disposal. Further guidance for hunters can be found online.
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