By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

The bird flu outbreak – which has reportedly killed roughly 15,000 to 20,000 eared grebes along the Great Salt Lake – continues to spread around the state. Since 2022, 122 birds have tested positive for the disease. 

Since February of last year, both Carbon and Emery County have confirmed cases of the disease, with Emery being one of three counties where the disease has appeared in recent months.

“We saw a lull in new avian flu cases in wild birds from January 2024 to November 2024, but since last fall, we have seen another uptick in new cases across Utah,” Division of Wildlife Resources Veterinarian Ginger Stout said.

This current outbreak has mainly affected geese, hawks, gulls, owls, and eared grebes. These viruses are highly pathogenic among the bird population, starting primarily in wild birds but having the potential to infect domesticated birds such as turkeys and chickens. According to a release from the Utah DWR,” Typically, these viruses only occasionally kill wild birds, but this strain is more pathogenic and has been killing more wild birds.”

Bird flu is typically spread among wild birds through nasal and oral discharge and fecal droppings. In turn, it can spread to domesticated birds through contact with these substances or through contaminated shoes or vehicles.

The DWR provides reassurance for those with bird feeders and birdbaths that the disease does not typically affect songbirds: ” People shouldn’t have to remove their bird feeders unless they also have backyard chickens or domestic ducks, which are susceptible to the virus. However, if you have a bird feeder or birdbath, you should clean it regularly.”

“The outbreak is still ongoing, so we are still advising anyone who finds a group of five or more dead waterfowl or shorebirds – or any individual dead scavengers or raptors – to report it to the nearest DWR office. Make sure you don’t touch the birds or pick them up,” Stout said. “Report it to us, and we will come collect them for testing. We are continuing to monitor this virus in wild bird populations. This particular strain is affecting more wild birds and is more widespread than the last outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu in the U.S.”

The virus killed a wild goose in Emery County and killed a goose and a gull in Carbon. All three incidents occurred in December 2024.

The DWR has provided a website to track cases of bird flu across the state, which is available here. The organization encourages anyone who identifies symptoms of bird flu to report it to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

More information on the outbreak can be found on the DWR’s website.

*Photo Courtesy of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources