Wildlife diseases

Sick wildlife reporting

What if I see sick-looking wildlife while scouting or hunting?
The DNR encourages you to report any sightings of sick or dead wildlife at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField. You should provide information about the location, number and condition of the animals you observed. Contact the DNR Wildlife Health Section at 517-336-5030 if you have any questions.

Return to table of contents

Avian influenza

What is avian influenza?
Avian influenza, or “bird flu,” is caused by viruses that infect both wild and domestic birds and mammals. These viruses impact poultry and wild birds in different ways. In poultry, avian influenza is typically  extremely contagious resulting in high death loss and associated economic losses to poultry producers. wild birds can carry the viruses but don't always get sick or die. Visit Michigan.gov/WildlifeDisease for more information.

Am I at risk when hunting waterfowl?
Although human risk is considered to be low, precautions should be taken when handling wild birds (see Handling and processing migratory bird meat on page 53). Wild birds can carry bird flu without appearing sick. As a general precaution, people should not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead. Hunters who handle wild birds should dress game birds in the field when possible and practice good biosecurity to prevent any potential disease spread.

Is my hunting dog at risk?
The risk of hunting dogs acquiring bird flu is likely low since they are not consuming the bird, but exposure to the virus may occur when mouthing or biting the bird. If you want to share waterfowl meat with your dog, thoroughly cook it first.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2

What is rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2?
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 is a highly contagious and fatal calicivirus that affects lagomorphs (domestic and wild rabbits, hares and pikas). In Michigan, the species that could be affected are cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares. The virus attacks the internal organs and causes hemorrhaging, leading the affected animal to bleed out. Sudden death in otherwise healthy rabbit populations is usually observed, along with blood around the mouth and nostrils of dead specimens. If a wild rabbit or hare is found dead with blood around its nose and mouth, and there is no obvious cause of death, it should be collected and submitted to the DNR Wildlife Health Section for testing. Contact the DNR Wildlife Health Section at 517-336-5030 if you have any questions. For a map of RHDV2-positive states, visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/rabbit-hemorrhagic-disease-map.

West Nile virus

What is West Nile virus?
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause inflammation of the brain and/or inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. WNV primarily infects and multiplies in birds, which serve as reservoirs for the virus. Corvids (crows, blue jays and ravens) are the most susceptible to the disease. The virus is spread between birds mostly through the bite of an infected mosquito. When the level of virus transmission among birds and mosquitoes becomes high, horses and humans can be incidentally infected. In Michigan, 65 bird species and six mammal species have been detected positive. Grouse infected with WNV generally display neurologically abnormal behavior such as erratic flying. Hunters may observe this behavior or find that a bird that they have harvested is in poor physical condition. Birds may also be found dead for no apparent reason. The entire carcass should be collected and submitted for examination. Contact the DNR Wildlife Health Section at 517-336-5030 if you have any questions.

Return to table of contents