BOONE, Iowa—The Boone County Conservation staff has reported a positive case of Avian Influenza in a bird discovered at the Don Williams Recreational Area last week. Conservation staff released this information on the Boone County Conservation Facebook page today:

Last week staff had spotted a goose out at the Don Williams Lake that was in critical condition. After taking the bird in and having it tested at Iowa State University we had a case of Avian Influenza.

This virus is highly transmissible, it naturally has occured in waterfowl and shore birds. Since 2022 the virus has now began to adapt to other wild birds, farm/ domesticated birds, and some mammals.

The DNR has made a press release stating mulitple cases in the past few weeks of sick or dead birds that have been reported and have tested positive for Avian Influenza state wide.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has an online database tracking HPAI detections in wild birds and other species by state at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/…/avian…/hpai-detections

Those who find five or more sick or dead flocking birds within a week should report their findings to their local wildlife biologist or state conservation officer. They are also interested in reports of solitary birds or mammals. Contact information is available online at www.iowadnr.gov under the About DNR tab on the homepage.

Please do not take in sick birds to your locally licensed wildlife rehabilitators at this time. By bringing these birds to their facilities will cause harm to the avian patients that have been in their care prior to the recent rise of the virus and limits the further spread.

(contributed information, Boone County Conservation)