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MUNCIE, Indiana – Amid reports of sick and dying songbirds in 15 counties, including Delaware County, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has recommended that all Hoosiers remove their bird feeders throughout the state.
The 15 counties reporting dying songbirds are Clark, Delaware, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, LaGrange, Lake, Marion, Monroe, Newton, St. Joseph, Union, Washington and Whitley, according to a statement released Friday.
MNR is working with the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (IN ADDL) and the USGS National Wildlife Health Center to determine the cause of bird death.
Affected songbirds exhibited neurological signs of disease, swelling of the eyes, and crusty discharge. All bird samples tested have tested negative for bird flu and West Nile virus, the statement said. The final results of the laboratory diagnosis are pending.
The DNR recommends that all residents of Indiana who see songbirds that appear to be sick to:
- Use the MNR Sick / Dead Wildlife Report Tool at at.IN.gov/sickwildlife to alert MNR personnel.
- Stop feeding the birds until the mortality event is over.
- Clean feeders and birdbaths with a 10% bleach solution.
- Avoid handling the birds. If you must handle birds, wear disposable gloves.
- When removing dead birds, wear disposable gloves and place birds and gloves in a sealable plastic bag to be disposed of with household garbage.
- Keep pets away from sick or dead birds as a precaution.
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