National Wildlife Health Center

...advancing wildlife and ecosystem health for a better tomorrow

New and Ongoing Wildlife Mortality Events Nationwide

USGS and a network of partners across the country work on documenting wildlife mortality events in order to provide timely and accurate information on locations, species and causes of death.  This information is used by natural resource managers, researchers, public health officials and  legislators  to help design disease prevention and mitigation strategies, to address interconnections between human, domestic animal and wildlife disease, and to assist in identification of 'normal' disease issues vs. biosecurity concerns.

These data are not all-inclusive. Information on some outbreaks may not be received until months or years after the event, but efforts continue to make the information as complete as possible. For information on previous wildlife mortality events and events that used to be on this page, please see the Quarterly Mortality Reports.

For additional information on mortalities

  • In the Eastern half of the United States, please contact Dr. Anne Ballman (608-270-2445 or aballmann@usgs.gov)
  • In the Western half of the United States, please contact Dr. Krysten Schuler (608-270-2447 or kschuler@usgs.gov)

More information on reporting an event can be found at the event reporting page.

Date last updated : Jan 29, 2010

Mortality Begin Date End Date State County Species Diagnosis Estimated Mortality to Date Reported By
01/19/201001/15/2010LAAVOYELLESLesser Snow GooseAflatoxicosis suspect< 50USGS NWHC
01/15/2010ongoingOR, CA**multiple countiesCalifornia Brown PelicanStarvation, Trauma: storm, Toxicosis: Oil, unidentified< 200
01/12/201001/14/2010FLPOLKLaughing GullEnteritis: hemorrhagic< 50USGS NWHC, FL Fish & Wildlife Cons Comm
01/12/2010ongoingMTMISSOULABighorn SheepPneumonia< 75MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks
01/12/2010ongoingMNGOODHUEMallardOpen< 10USGS NWHC
01/12/2010ongoingMSWASHINGTONLesser Snow Goose, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Ross' Goose, Common MoorhenAflatoxicosis suspect< 50USGS NWHC
01/11/2010ongoingOHMAHONINGAmerican CrowViral Infection suspect~ 50USGS NWHC
01/07/201001/20/2010TXLUBBOCKBoat-tailed Grackle, Canada GooseTrauma suspect, Aflatoxicosis suspect< 25USGS NWHC
01/06/2010ongoingALMOBILE, BALDWINEastern Brown Pelican, Unidentified Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Unidentified Tern, Unidentified DolphinEmaciation: starvation suspect~ 100USGS NWHC
01/04/2010ongoingFLPINELLASEastern Screech OwlEmaciation: starvation suspect< 50FL Fish & Wildlife Cons Comm, USGS NWHC
01/03/201001/03/2010LACALCASIEUAmerican CootTrauma: gunshot< 25SCWDS
01/03/201001/06/2010LACALCASIEUBrown PelicanStarvation< 25SCWDS
12/30/2009ongoingOKSEQUOYAH, MUSKOGEELesser Snow Goose, Ross' Goose, MallardAflatoxicosis suspect< 150USGS NWHC
12/22/2009ongoingOHCOSHOCTONAmerican CrowViral Infection: Reo virus-like CPE~ 50USGS NWHC
12/22/200912/25/2009ARLAFAYETTERoss' Goose, Greater Snow GooseAflatoxicosis suspect~ 100USGS NWHC
12/11/200912/20/2009UTDAVISGreen-winged Teal, Mallard, GadwallUndetermined, Trauma: gunshot~ 300USGS NWHC
12/09/200901/03/2009TXHARTLEY, MOOREWood Duck, Mallard, American Wigeon, Ross' Goose, Lesser Snow GooseAvian cholera~ 3000USGS NWHC
12/06/200912/24/2009MTGALLATINEurasian Collared DoveViral Infection: pigeon paramyxovirus 1< 25USGS NWHC
12/04/2009ongoingWAKITTITASBighorn SheepPneumonia~ 10WA State Disease Lab
11/20/2009ongoingMTRAVALLIBighorn SheepPneumonia< 75MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks
11/09/200911/15/2009MNWADENACanada GooseParasitism: Sphaeridiotrema globulus< 10USGS NWHC
10/23/200912/04/2009WIOUTAGAMIECanada Goose, MallardImpaction: soybean< 200WI Dept of Natural Resources
10/19/200910/27/2009WAPACIFICWestern Grebe, Northern Fulmar, Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Common MurreLoss of Waterproofing: Akashiwo sanguinea, Emaciation: starvationunknownUSGS NWHC
10/18/200911/24/2009WAWHATCOMNorthern Pintail, Ruddy Duck, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, MallardAspergillosis< 350USGS NWHC
10/17/2009ongoingMTYELLOWSTONERing-billed Gull, Western GrebeOpen< 10USGS NWHC
10/15/200910/25/2009AZMARICOPAEurasian Collared DoveTrauma, Viral Infection: pigeon paramyxovirus 1< 50USGS NWHC, Univ of AZ Diagnostic Lab
10/15/200910/20/2009VAYORKMallardToxicosis: diazinon< 10USGS NWHC
10/15/200911/09/2009MTDEER LODGEAmerican Coot, White-winged ScoterParasitism: Cyathocotyle bushiensis, Parasitism: Sphaeridiotrema globulus< 150USGS NWHC
10/14/200910/22/2009TXCOLORADOBlack-bellied Tree DuckUndetermined< 10USGS NWHC
10/09/200911/25/2009MNITASCALesser Scaup, American CootParasitism: Cyathocotyle bushiensis, Parasitism: Sphaeridiotrema globulus, Parasitism: Leyogonimus p< 150USGS NWHC
10/02/200910/02/2009MDBALTIMOREGreen Frog, American ToadFungal Infection: chytrid< 150San Diego County Vet Diag Lab
10/01/2009ongoingNVCLARKEared Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Mallard, American CootTrauma< 25USGS NWHC
09/28/200910/13/2009FLPALM BEACHMuscovy DuckBotulism type C< 100USGS NWHC
09/20/200910/04/2009MDTALBOTGreat Black-backed Gull, Herring GullAspergillosis< 5USGS NWHC
09/18/200911/24/2009MNHOUSTONLesser Scaup, American Coot, Bufflehead, Blue-winged Teal, Unidentified DuckParasitism: Cyathocotyle bushiensis, Parasitism: Leyogonimus polyoon< 1550USGS NWHC
09/13/200910/20/2009WACLALLAM, GRAYS HARBORAlaskan Sea OtterOpen: trauma suspect, Pulmonary edema, Deformities: etiology undetermined< 25USGS NWHC
09/09/2009ongoingWAJEFFERSONCommon Murre, White-winged Scoter, Surf ScoterLoss of Waterproofing: Akashiwo sanguinea, Emaciation: starvation~ 10000CO State University, - other -
08/19/200911/11/2009WIDOORUnidentified Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Ring-billed Gull, Common Loon, BuffleheadBotulism type E< 25WI Dept of Natural Resources
08/01/200910/25/2009NJWARRENHouse SparrowSalmonellosis, Trauma suspect< 50USGS NWHC
08/01/2009ongoingOHPERRYHouse Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Blue JayUndetermined< 50USGS NWHC
08/01/200911/12/2009IDPOWER, BINGHAMUnidentified Grebe, Unidentified Duck or Goose, Unidentified Shorebird, Blue-winged Teal, Canada GooseBotulism type C~ 20000ID Wildlife Health Lab, USGS NWHC
08/01/200910/07/2009CASISKIYOUGreen-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, GadwallBotulism type C< 3400USGS NWHC
07/29/200910/28/2009UTDAVIS, BOX ELDERAmerican Avocet, Mallard, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Wilson's PhalaropeBotulism type C~ 50000USGS NWHC
07/24/200910/15/2009MILIVINGSTON, GENESEEWhite-tailed DeerEpizootic hemorrhagic disease~ 400MI Dept of Natural Resources
07/15/200910/04/2009IDLATAHColumbia Spotted Frog, Pacific TreefrogViral Infection: Ranavirus~ 200USGS NWHC
07/01/200910/15/2009PACENTRESnapping TurtleEmaciation: starvation, Viral Infection: Ranavirus< 25USGS NWHC
06/22/200911/04/2009MIBENZIE, MASONRing-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Piping Plover, Herring Gull, Common MerganserBotulism type E< 250USGS NWHC, MI Dept of Natural Resources
06/04/2009ongoingCAIMPERIALAmerican White Pelican, California Brown Pelican, Canada Goose, Ring-billed GullViral Infection: West Nile~ 100USGS NWHC
06/01/200910/31/2009MABERKSHIREBog TurtleOpen< 10USGS NWHC, Tufts University

Explanation of fields:

Mortality begin date is the date the mortality began -- for most wildlife disease events, this is an estimate only, as carcasses may not be noticed immediately.

End date is again usually an estimate of the last day new carcasses were found.

State and country identify the area in which the mortality is occurring.  NOTE:  avian mortality events may cover several counties and possibly multiple states given the migratory nature of many species.

Species shown on the table include up to 5 of the species involved in the event.  In some cases, group identifiers like 'waterfowl' or 'shorebirds' have been used instead of specific names when a large number of different species are involved.

Diagnosis includes a final diagnosis, if known, with no qualifiers; a suspected diagnosis once preliminary investigations have been made; or an indication that tests are still in process.  NOTE:  In some instances, where mortality occurred but no specimens were sent to NWHC or another diagnostic laboratory or -- in rare instances -- where tests could not definitely identify a trigger for the mortality, the cause of death may never be determined.  Such events are identified with the word 'open' in the diagnosis column.

The estimated mortality provides some indication of the severity of the event.  Numbers may change rapidly from one week to the next.

The 'reported by' field indicates the lab(s) or agencies who reported or are working on the mortality event.

USGS NWHC = USGS National Wildlife Health Center
USDA NVSL = USDA National Veterinary Services Lab
SCWDS = Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study

NOTE: If you find a dead bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian, please contact your state natural resource agency first.  They will know the proper reporting procedures for your area.  Contact information may be found online or in the government pages of your local telephone book.

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