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 : Jun 28, 2009

Mortality Begin Date End Date State County Species Diagnosis Estimated Mortality to Date Reported By
06/18/2009ongoingCTWINDHAM, LITCHFIELD, FAIRFIELDBig Brown BatOpen~ 25USGS NWHC
06/15/2009ongoingVAFREDERICKEuropean StarlingOpen< 25USGS NWHC
06/15/200906/17/2009OHDELAWARECanada GooseOpen: emaciation/starvation< 25USGS NWHC
06/14/200906/15/2009NDWARDAmerican White PelicanOpen< 10USGS NWHC
06/14/2009ongoingNYQUEENSCanada GooseBotulism suspect, Open< 25Cornell University
06/10/200906/15/2009ILCOOKMallard, Wood Duck, Rock DoveBotulism type C, Undetermined< 10University of IL
06/08/200906/15/2009OHCUYAHOGACommon GrackleOpen< 10USGS NWHC
06/05/200906/25/2009FLDADEMuscovy DuckBotulism type C< 25USGS NWHC
06/01/200906/16/2009WYJOHNSONTiger SalamanderViral Infection: Ranavirus suspect< 25USGS NWHC
06/01/2009ongoingNVCLARKEared GrebeOpen< 50USGS NWHC
05/28/200906/12/2009MNHENNEPINMallard, Canada GooseBotulism type C< 25USGS NWHC
05/27/2009ongoingNDMCHENRY, RAMSEYFranklin's GullPredation, Aspergillosis~ 100USGS NWHC
05/17/200905/31/2009MAHAMPSHIREWood FrogViral Infection: Ranavirus~ 2000USGS NWHC
05/15/2009ongoingINPORTERCentral NewtFungal Infection: NOS< 5USGS NWHC
05/14/200905/28/2009NDMCLEANRing-billed GullAspergillosis, Trauma< 50USGS NWHC
05/06/2009ongoingMABARNSTABLECommon EiderEmaciation< 75USGS NWHC
05/04/2009ongoingTNBLOUNTSpotted Salamander, Marbled Salamander, Wood FrogViral Infection: Ranavirus< 10- other -
05/01/2009ongoingILMERCERRed-Eared Slider TurtlePneumonia< 25USGS NWHC
04/30/200905/10/2009MNITASCALesser Scaup, American CootParasitism: Cyathocotyle bushiensis, Parasitism: Sphaeridiotrema globulus~ 200USGS NWHC
04/16/2009ongoingARGARLANDEastern BluebirdParasitism: Simulidae< 75USGS NWHC
04/15/2009ongoingCASAN MATEO, MARIN, SAN FRANCISCOBrandt's Cormorant, Western GrebeEmaciation: starvation~ 1000CA Fish & Game Disease Lab, USGS NWHC
04/13/2009ongoingNYPUTNAM, RICHMONDSouthern Leopard FrogFungal Infection: Chytrid suspect< 5- other -
04/10/200905/15/2009MTYELLOWSTONELesser Scaup, Tundra Swan, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Redhead DuckParasitism: Cyathocotyle bushiensis, Parasitism: Sphaeridiotrema globulus< 50USGS NWHC
04/09/200905/01/2009NMSANTA FEUnidentified RabbitTularemia, Sylvatic plague< 5- unknown -
04/07/200904/27/2009IDADAMallardUndetermined< 25USGS NWHC
04/01/200904/15/2009IDBLAINEPine SiskinSalmonellosis< 50ID Wildlife Health Lab
04/01/200905/15/2009AKFAIRBANKS NORTH STARBoreal OwlEmaciation< 25USGS NWHC
03/23/200905/19/2009WIVERNON, LA CROSSEAmerican Coot, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, BuffleheadParasitism: Sphaeridiotrema globulus, Parasitism: Cyathocotyle bushiensis~ 1500USGS NWHC
03/13/200904/06/2009ALCALHOUNPine SiskinSalmonellosis< 10USGS NWHC
03/08/200905/21/2009GADOUGLAS, CLARKE, DAWSONAmerican Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Northern Cardinal, House FinchSalmonellosis< 50SCWDS
03/07/200904/22/2009CASISKIYOULesser Snow Goose, Ross' Goose, Cackling GooseAvian cholera< 1950USGS NWHC
03/06/200904/15/2009NYWARREN, ALBANY, SARATOGAPine Siskin, House SparrowSalmonellosis< 25NY Dept Env Cons
02/20/200904/15/2009MNCARLTONPine Siskin, Common RedpollSalmonellosis~ 50USGS NWHC
02/20/200905/18/2009WIADAMS, BROWN, CHIPPEWAPine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Common Redpoll, Purple Finch, House FinchSalmonellosis< 300WI Dept of Natural Resources
02/20/200905/30/2009NHGRAFTON, MERRIMACKLittle Brown Bat, Other, Northern Long-eared BatFungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome< 5USGS NWHC
02/19/200904/12/2009MDGARRETTPine SiskinSalmonellosis~ 200USGS NWHC
02/15/200904/30/2009NCMOORE, CALDWELLPine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Purple FinchSalmonellosis< 100USGS NWHC, SCWDS
02/15/200905/30/2009VABATH, GILES, BLANDEastern Pipistrelle, Little Brown BatFungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome< 50USGS NWHC
02/15/200905/04/2009MEUNKNOWN, YORK, CUMBERLANDCommon Redpoll, American Goldfinch, Pine SiskinSalmonellosis suspect~ 100- no diagnostics done -
02/15/200905/01/2009IDKOOTENAITundra SwanLead poisoning suspect~ 150- no diagnostics done -
02/14/200905/10/2009MIWEXFORD, GRAND TRAVERSE, OSCEOLAPine Siskin, Common Redpoll, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, Evening GrosbeakSalmonellosis (S. typhimurium)~ 300MI Dept of Natural Resources
02/12/200904/22/2009WVTUCKERPine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Purple FinchSalmonellosis, Emaciation~ 50USGS NWHC, SCWDS
02/09/200904/30/2009VTORANGE, RUTLAND, WINDSORPine Siskin, American GoldfinchSalmonellosis< 50USGS NWHC
02/02/200905/30/2009MAHAMPDENLittle Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, Eastern PipistrelleFungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome suspect~ 900- no diagnostics done -
01/30/200905/30/2009VTWASHINGTON, BENNINGTONNorthern Long-eared Bat, Little Brown BatFungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome suspect, Emaciation~ 350000USGS NWHC
01/27/200905/30/2009NYULSTER, ESSEXBig Brown Bat, Indiana Bat, Eastern Pipistrelle, Little Brown BatFungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome~ 4450USGS NWHC
01/27/200905/30/2009CTLITCHFIELD, HARTFORDLittle Brown Bat, Eastern Pipistrelle, Northern Long-eared BatFungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome~ 100USGS NWHC
01/24/200905/19/2009WVPENDLETONEastern Pipistrelle, Northern Long-eared Bat, Little Brown BatFungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome~ 50USGS NWHC, SCWDS
01/15/200904/03/2009TXNUECESEastern Brown PelicanEmaciation, Parasitism: coccidiosis< 50USGS NWHC
01/14/200904/30/2009TXARANSASWhooping CraneEmaciation, Predation, Viral Infection suspect< 25USGS NWHC
01/01/200904/03/2009FLDUVAL, BREVARDGreen Sea Turtle, Loggerhead Sea TurtleOpen~ 200University of FL
12/28/200805/30/2009NJMORRIS, WARRENLittle Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared BatFungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome, Emaciation~ 10000USGS NWHC
11/25/200805/30/2009PAMIFFLIN, LACKAWANNA, LUZERNENorthern Long-eared Bat, Eastern Pipistrelle, Little Brown BatFungal Infection: White-Nose Syndrome, Emaciation< 400USGS NWHC
10/28/2008ongoingNDSARGENTAmerican White Pelican, Unidentified CormorantOpen< 25USGS NWHC
07/29/2008ongoingCAMONTEREYSticklebackOpen< 100USGS NWHC
06/18/2008ongoingCASANTA CRUZCalifornia Red-legged FrogOpen< 10USGS NWHC

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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Page Last Modified: Feb 11, 2009