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.
Date last updated :
Apr 24, 2008
| Mortality Begin Date |
End Date |
State |
County |
Species |
Diagnosis |
Estimated Mortality to Date |
NWHC Contact |
| 04/07/2008 | ongoing | IA | PALO ALTO | American Coot, Mallard, Greater White-Fronted Goose, Lesser Snow Goose, Ring-Necked Duck | Avian cholera suspect | ~ 850 | Ramsay |
| 04/04/2008 | 04/11/2008 | FL | WAKULLA | Common Loon, Red-breasted Merganser | Open | ~ 100 | Ramsay |
| 04/02/2008 | ongoing | WI | LA CROSSE, VERNON, CRAWFORD | American Coot, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Ring-Necked Duck, Bufflehead | Parasitism suspect | ~ 1050 | Ballmann |
| 03/29/2008 | 04/01/2008 | MD | FREDERICK | Fish Crow | Open | < 25 | Ballmann |
| 03/28/2008 | ongoing | FL | SARASOTA | Eastern Brown Pelican | Botulism suspect | ~ 10 | Ballmann |
| 03/27/2008 | ongoing | FL | ST JOHNS | Northern Gannet, Common Loon | Open | < 25 | Ramsay |
| 03/24/2008 | 04/01/2008 | FL | PINELLAS | Muscovy Duck | Duck plague suspect | < 50 | Ramsay |
| 03/22/2008 | 03/30/2008 | WA | GRANT | California Gull, Ring-Billed Gull | Open | < 150 | Schuler |
| 03/20/2008 | 03/24/2008 | WA | GRANT | Ring-Billed Gull | Open | ~ 50 | Schuler |
| 03/17/2008 | ongoing | CT | LITCHFIELD, LITCHFIELD, LITCHFIELD | Big Brown Bat, Northern long-eared Bat, Little Brown Bat | Open | unknown | Ramsay |
| 03/15/2008 | ongoing | AK | PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND > | Bald Eagle | Open | < 10 | Schuler |
| 03/15/2008 | ongoing | PR | | Sooty Moustached Bat | null | < 25 | Ballmann |
| 03/14/2008 | ongoing | KS | KEARNY | Lesser Snow Goose, Mallard, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Green-Winged Teal | Avian cholera | ~ 100 | Schuler |
| 03/09/2008 | ongoing | MI | LEELANAU | Lesser Scaup, White-Winged Scoter, Long-Tailed Duck, Unidentified Goldeneye, Bufflehead | Open | < 100 | Ramsay |
| 03/07/2008 | 03/26/2008 | FL | SANTA ROSA | Eastern Brown Pelican | Botulism suspect | ~ 10 | Ramsay |
| 03/02/2008 | ongoing | MI | ST CLAIR, MACOMB | Canvasback, Redhead Duck | Malnutrition | ~ 1500 | Ramsay |
| 03/01/2008 | ongoing | WA | WHATCOM | White-Winged Scoter | Pulmonary edema | ~ 10 | Schuler |
| 03/01/2008 | ongoing | WY | CARBON | Elk | Toxicosis: Parmelia spp. (lichen) | < 100 | Schuler |
| 02/29/2008 | 03/01/2008 | ID | ADA | Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Raccoon, Wood Duck | Toxicosis: zinc phosphide | < 25 | Schuler |
| 02/27/2008 | 04/01/2008 | MN | AITKIN | Rock Dove | Open | < 50 | Ramsay |
| 02/26/2008 | ongoing | NE | PHELPS, CLAY | Lesser Snow Goose, Greater White-Fronted Goose, Ross' Goose, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon | Avian cholera | < 350 | Schuler |
| 02/24/2008 | ongoing | CA | MERCED | Ross' Goose, American Coot | Avian cholera | ~ 200 | Schuler |
| 02/20/2008 | 02/24/2008 | SD | BENNETT | Mallard, Unidentified Domestic Or Hybrid Goose | Predation | ~ 10 | Schuler |
| 02/20/2008 | 02/20/2008 | CA | MARIN | Greater Scaup | Avian cholera | < 350 | Schuler |
| 02/16/2008 | 02/23/2008 | WA | KING | Varied Thrush | Open | < 50 | Schuler |
| 02/15/2008 | 03/13/2008 | IA | MONONA | Mallard, Canada Goose | Lead poisoning | < 150 | Ramsay |
| 02/15/2008 | 02/25/2008 | VA | WYTHE | Mallard, Canada Goose, Red-Winged Blackbird | Toxicosis: carbamate compound | < 50 | Ballmann |
| 02/13/2008 | 02/22/2008 | IA | LINN | Canada Goose | Aflatoxicosis | < 25 | Ramsay |
| 02/12/2008 | ongoing | CA | SHASTA | Skunk, Unidentified Fox, Raccoon | Open | < 75 | Schuler |
| 02/06/2008 | 03/03/2008 | FL | MIAMI-DADE | Muscovy Duck, White Ibis | Botulism type C | < 50 | Ramsay |
| 02/04/2008 | 02/07/2008 | OK | MAJOR | Unidentified Sandhill Crane | Open | < 100 | Schuler |
| 01/31/2008 | 03/20/2008 | CA | SISKIYOU | Tundra Swan, Northern Pintail, Ruddy Duck, American Wigeon, American Coot | Avian cholera | < 3400 | Schuler |
| 01/30/2008 | 01/31/2008 | AZ | MARICOPA | Mourning Dove, Inca Dove, Unidentified Pigeon | Toxicosis: strychnine | < 25 | Schuler |
| 01/23/2008 | 01/27/2008 | AR | COLUMBIA | American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch | Salmonellosis | ~ 50 | Ramsay |
| 01/22/2008 | 01/25/2008 | OR | MULTNOMAH | American Robin | Toxicosis: ethanol suspect | ~ 50 | Schuler |
| 01/18/2008 | 01/29/2008 | CA | SAN JOAQUIN | Tundra Swan, Northern Pintail, Mallard, American Coot, Lesser Snow Goose | Avian cholera | ~ 400 | Schuler |
| 01/15/2008 | ongoing | MA | HAMPDEN | Eastern Pipistrelle, Northern long-eared Bat, Little Brown Bat | Open | ~ 200 | Ramsay |
| 01/14/2008 | 01/28/2008 | DE | SUSSEX | Common Grackle | Open | ~ 200 | Ramsay |
| 01/10/2008 | 01/14/2008 | NJ | MERCER | American Crow | Enteritis: hemorrhagic, Viral Infection: NOS | < 10 | Ramsay |
| 01/09/2008 | 02/28/2008 | CA | IMPERIAL | Ruddy Duck, American Coot, Black-Necked Stilt, Unidentified Gull, Eared Grebe | Avian cholera | < 250 | Schuler |
| 01/08/2008 | 01/10/2008 | AR | CRITTENDEN | Ross' Goose | Trauma | < 25 | Ramsay |
| 01/07/2008 | 03/01/2008 | OH | COSHOCTON | American Crow | Enteritis: hemorrhagic, Viral Infection: NOS | ~ 150 | Ramsay |
| 01/05/2008 | 01/07/2008 | MD | WICOMICO | Common Grackle, Blue Jay | Toxicosis suspect | ~ 100 | Ramsay |
| 01/05/2008 | 01/07/2008 | MO | MISSISSIPPI | Lesser Snow Goose | Avian cholera | ~ 75 | Ramsay |
| 01/04/2008 | 01/06/2008 | OR | WASHINGTON | Canada Goose | Toxicosis: zinc phosphide | < 10 | Schuler |
| 01/02/2008 | 01/08/2008 | IA | POLK | Canada Goose | Aflatoxicosis suspect | ~ 150 | Ramsay |
| 01/01/2008 | 01/05/2008 | AR | ARKANSAS | Mallard | Undetermined | < 10 | Ramsay |
| 01/01/2008 | ongoing | NY | ALBANY, ULSTER | Big Brown Bat, Little Brown Bat | Open | unknown | Ramsay |
| 01/01/2008 | ongoing | VT | BENNINGTON | Little Brown Bat, Northern long-eared Bat | Open | ~ 1000 | Ramsay |
| 01/01/2008 | 03/01/2008 | CA | SAN DIEGO | Red-Tailed Hawk | Chlamydiosis | < 25 | Schuler |
| 01/01/2008 | ongoing | MT | JEFFERSON | Bighorn Sheep | Pneumonia | ~ 200 | Schuler |
| 12/25/2007 | ongoing | NY | ALBANY, DUTCHESS, RENSSELAER | American Crow | Enteritis: hemorrhagic, Viral Infection: NOS | ~ 1000 | Ramsay |
| 12/21/2007 | 01/28/2008 | OR | COLUMBIA | Lesser Snow Goose | Lead poisoning | < 25 | Schuler |
| 12/20/2007 | ongoing | CA | STANISLAUS | Aleutian Canada Goose, American Coot, Ross' Goose, Greater White-Fronted Goose | Avian cholera | ~ 600 | Schuler |
| 12/17/2007 | 01/08/2008 | UT | SALT LAKE | Northern Shoveler, California Gull | Avian cholera | ~ 1500 | Schuler |
| 12/17/2007 | ongoing | CA | SUTTER | American Coot, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Greater Snow Goose, Ruddy Duck | Avian cholera | < 3650 | Schuler |
| 12/13/2007 | ongoing | WY | WASHAKIE | Golden Eagle | Electrocution | < 25 | Schuler |
| 12/10/2007 | 01/15/2008 | OR | KLAMATH | Mallard, American Coot, Northern Pintail, Bald Eagle | Avian cholera, Lead poisoning, Trauma: gunshot | ~ 100 | Schuler |
| 12/10/2007 | 01/07/2008 | CA | SISKIYOU | Mallard, Northern Pintail, American Coot | Lead poisoning | ~ 100 | Schuler |
| 12/07/2007 | 03/01/2008 | WA | CHELAN | Pine Siskin, Unidentified Finch | Trauma: impact | ~ 500 | Schuler |
| 12/01/2007 | 03/03/2008 | NM | SOCORRO | Lesser Snow Goose, Ross' Goose, Mallard, Unidentified Sandhill Crane, Northern Pintail | Avian cholera | ~ 7000 | Schuler |
| 11/07/2007 | 01/07/2008 | CA | SAN FRANCISCO | Unidentified Seabird, Unidentified Scaup, Surf Scoter, Unidentified Mammal | Toxicosis: petroleum (oil) | < 2550 | Schuler |
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 contact field provides the name of the individual to contact for more information about the mortality event.
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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