Ontario: Avian flu in wild birds 2023-2026

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Dead crows in Chatham-Kent test positive for avian influenza

By Travis Fortnum
Published: December 24, 2025 at 11:04AM EST

Wildlife officials say testing has confirmed avian influenza as the likely cause of a recent crow die-off in Chatham-Kent.

In an update provided Wednesday, Brian Stevens, a wildlife pathologist with the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, says six crow specimens collected from the area have tested positive for avian influenza virus.

“With the help of Canadian Wildlife Service, we were able to get six crow specimens in for testing,” Stevens said.
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https://www.ctvnews.ca/windsor/article/dead-crows-in-chatham-kent-test-positive-for-avian-influenza/

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/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Elgin
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Port Stanley Sick or Deceased Bird Monitoring

Posted on Friday, January 02, 2026



The Municipality of Central Elgin is aware of reports of deceased birds in the Port Stanley harbour area. While the cause of death has not been confirmed, Municipal staff are working closely with wildlife control services and other partners to monitor the situation and respond as needed.

We will share more information as it becomes available.

For everyone’s safety, residents are reminded to:

• Avoid contact with deceased or sick birds
• Keep children and pets away from dead animals
• Report sick or deceased birds to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 1-866-673-4781
• From now until January 5, 2026, please report to the Municipality of Central Elgin at 519-631-4860.

https://www.centralelgin.org/en/news/port-stanley-sick-or-deceased-bird-monitoring.aspx

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/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professor%27s_Lake
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Bird flu suspected after multiple dead waterfowl found at two Brampton lakes

Officials are giving residents and pet ownsers a heads up after dead waterfowl suspected of being infected with avian influenza were discovered at two separate locations in Brampton.

By Graeme Frisque
Brampton Guardian
Monday, January 19, 2026
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The deceased waterfowl were discovered at Professor’s Lake, in the area of Bramalea Road and North Park Drive, and Reginald Conover Pond, in the area of McVean Drive and Cottrelle Boulevard.
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Brampton has confirmed multiple instances of bird flu in dead waterfowl in recent years. While the city did not identify specific species, “waterfowl” typically refers to ducks, swans and geese.
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https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/dead-waterfowl-brampton-jan-2026/article_093bf610-20dd-571d-9290-58952a3e2b39.html

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wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/5582

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Port Whitby Whitby, ON
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Canada geese found in Whitby Harbour likely died of bird flu, test results show

The geese were found dead near Port Whitby Marina last week

CBC News · Posted: Jan 20, 2026 5:51 PM CST | Last Updated: January 20

Several Canada geese found dead in Whitby Harbour last week likely died of bird flu, initial results from the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) show.

Brian Stevens, a wildlife pathologist with CWHC’s Ontario/Nunavut Region, confirmed the early results Tuesday evening. The samples will need to be sent to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for confirmation.

Whitby-area residents are being urged to avoid contact with geese remains and to make sure pets remain on leashes so they do not eat the dead wildlife.
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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/canada-geese-bird-flu-9.7053848

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wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/5582

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/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington,_Ontario
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Bird and pet owners warned of avian influenza virus in Prince Edward County

March 19, 2026

The County of Prince Edward is advising the public of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) detected in wild waterfowl in Wellington.

Avian influenza (AI), commonly known as “bird flu,” is a contagious viral infection that can affect several species of food producing birds as well as pet birds and wild birds. AI viruses can be classified into two categories: low pathogenicity (LPAI) and high pathogenicity (HPAI) viruses, based on the severity of the illness caused in birds.

Users of Wellington Rotary Beach and their pets should avoid contact with waterfowl, waterfowl carcasses and fecal matter. Dog owners are encouraged to avoid walking at the beach during this time.

To reduce the risk from avian flu, the public is advised to:

• Avoid direct contact with wild birds and other wild animals.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching any bird feeders, bird baths, or any potentially contaminated areas.
• Place backyard bird feeders and bird baths as far from family pets as possible and clean with a bleach and water solution (one-part bleach to nine-parts water) at least once every two weeks.
• Keep family pets away from birds and fecal matter.

Owners of backyard flocks no matter what the size or species as well as commercial poultry producers should exercise extreme caution and invoke heightened biosecurity measures such as:

• Keep poultry away from areas frequented by wild birds and wild bird droppings.
• Maintain strict control over access to poultry houses and your premises.
• Make sure equipment is cleaned and disinfected before taking it into poultry houses.
• Do not keep bird feeders or create duck ponds close to poultry houses.
• Maintain the highest sanitation standards.
• Change footwear and prevent wearing contaminated clothing when entering the poultry house.

In addition to regular biosecurity measures, the following heightened biosecurity standards should now be applied:

• Control access to your farm site by communicating the situation to all essential visitors, including service providers, input suppliers, and feed providers.
• Keep mortalities in secure, covered containers until they are moved to the disposal area or transported off-farm.
• Place waste entering the public collection system in a sealed, waterproof bag with the exterior disinfected.
• If possible, keep all waste on-farm until the situation is resolved.

Backyard hen/small flock owners are reminded that the Backyard Hen By-Law requires owners to register all hens with the Chicken Farmers of Ontario Small Flock Policy through their Family Food Program. Registering will ensure that small flock growers receive disease notices and guidance to protect their flock. The Family Food Program website also offers bird health and disease management guidance.

Avian influenza viruses, such as the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, can, on rare occasions, cause disease in humans. Transmission to humans has occurred when people have had close contact with infected birds or heavily contaminated environments.

Due to the potential for human infection, it is recommended that people working with poultry suspected of being infected with avian influenza, or in contact with such poultry, wear protective clothing. This includes face masks, goggles, gloves and boots. If you become ill with influenza symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat) within 10 days after handling wild birds or other wildlife, see your health-care provider. Inform your health-care provider that you have been in contact with wildlife.

Visit the CWHC website to learn more about avian influenza. Suspected instances of avian flu can be reported to the Ontario Regional Centre of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative 1.866.673.4781.

https://www.thecounty.ca/county_news_notices/bird-and-pet-owners-warned-of-avian-influenza-virus-in-prince-edward-county/