Ontario: Avian flu in wild birds 2023-2026

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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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/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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/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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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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Chatham-Kent
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Windsor

Wildlife health co-operative investigating deaths of crows in Chatham-Kent

Dozens of deceased birds have been seen near a roost on the Thames River

CBC News · Posted: Dec 22, 2025 2:22 PM CST | Last Updated: December 22

A wildlife pathologist with the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative says he’s hoping to know by Christmas Eve what killed dozens of crows along the Thames River in Chatham-Kent.

Brian Stevens says the most likely culprits are avian influenza — which also caused multiple crow die-offs in Chatham-Kent last winter — or avian reovirus, the same virus that killed around 100 birds in the area in early 2023.
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The crows likely became infected with a deadly virus by feeding on other deceased birds, Stevens said.

It’s possible that other animals and birds — such as eagles, hawks and owls — could in turn scavenge on the crows and become infected with whatever they’re carrying.
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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/chatham-kent-crow-deaths-9.7025452

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Avian flu kills Canada geese in Woodstock, Ont. but unlike commercial birds, experts not worried

The city had received reports of sick geese for weeks, staff say

CBC News · Posted: Dec 02, 2025 3:20 PM CST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

Two Canada geese in Woodstock, Ont. have tested positive for avian influenza as commercial poultry farmers in southwestern Ontario continue to see outbreaks on their farms.

City officals said they've heard reports from people over the past few weeks that some geese appeared sick. On Tuesday, spokesperson Robin De Angelis wrote in an email that two were found dead in Southside Park.

They were taken for testing by the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) and the results were positive for avian flu, or H5N1. It's a strain that been circulating in Ontario since 2022, according to Ontario's Ministry of Health.

"It's not like this is an isolated incident that we're worried about getting out to other regions," CWHC's pathologist Brian Stevens said. "It is a virus that is circulating within the wild population across Ontario."
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The City of Woodstock and Southwestern Public Health are recommending people and pets stay away from Canada Geese.
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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/avian-flu-kills-canada-geese-in-woodstock-ont-but-unlike-commercial-birds-experts-not-worried-9.7000344

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Murphy Park in Mount Forest reopens after geese deaths prompt avian flu investigation
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Carmen Groleau · CBC News · Posted: Oct 21, 2025 8:06 AM CDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

After a brief closure, Murphy Park in Mount Forest is open to the public again.

The Township of Wellington North closed the park on Friday as officials with the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative investigated a potential case of avian flu after a person reported seeing dead geese in the water near the park.

On Monday, the township said the closure was out of precaution after avian flu was detected in nearby commercial bird flocks.

"Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health does not have any concerns about Murphy Park reopening and welcoming visitors once again," the township said in a release.

Brian Stevens with the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative told CBC News that avian flu has been detected in wild birds in the area and across southwestern Ontario, but it's normal for this time of year.
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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/murphy-park-reopens-geese-deaths-avian-flu-9.6946560

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Officials investigate possible avian flu after dead geese found in Mount Forest park
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CBC News · Posted: Oct 17, 2025 3:14 PM CDT | Last Updated: October 17
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The park was closed Friday morning after the Township of Wellington North said a resident called to report possibly one to four dead geese were floating in the river.

Brooke Lambert, chief administrative officer for the township, told CBC News Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health has been notified and the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative is investigating.

"Nothing has been confirmed. We just closed the park as a precaution so that they could do the investigation," she said.
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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/possible-avian-flu-in-mount-forest-park-9.6943100

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Bruce County
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_County
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News Releases

Published on Tuesday, April 1, 2025

GBPH reminds residents to avoid handling wild birds; take steps to protect against avian flu

Grey Bruce Public Health has been notified that laboratory tests on wild birds – found deceased near the Lake Huron shoreline in southern Bruce County – have returned as positive for avian influenza (H5N1).

Bruce Power, in collaboration with the University of Guelph and wildlife authorities, proactively collected samples for testing by the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative (CWHC) after observing a number of deceased waterfowl north of the company’s site.

The risk of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, passing from infected wild birds to people remains very low. When human infections have occurred, it’s almost always following sustained close contact with infected live or dead poultry or contaminated facilities. In addition, there has been no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread of avian influenza.

While avian influenza has been detected in wild birds in every province and territory in Canada, no human cases of the virus have been attributed to exposure to wild birds in North America.

However, Grey Bruce Public Health is reminding the public to exercise caution if interacting with wild birds.

“We would like to thank Bruce Power for proactively working to determine the cause of this mortality event involving a number of waterfowl and for notifying Grey Bruce Public Health about the test results,” says Senior Public Health Manager Andrew Barton.

“Even though human infections with avian influenza are very rare, it’s always advantageous to remind people to take steps to minimize the risk of potential exposure to this virus, such as by avoiding contact with dead or sick wild birds or animals.”

Wild birds are natural carriers of avian influenza viruses. Although a majority of these birds exhibit no symptoms, the disease can cause wild bird deaths. From Jan. 1 to March 11, 2025, the CWHC dead bird survey identified 145 birds positive for avian influenza in Ontario.

H5N1 continues to circulate worldwide with ongoing detections in various wild, domestic, and backyard bird populations. The virus has also been detected in various wild and domestic mammalian species.

In November 2024, the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed a human case of avian influenza caused by H5N1 in Canada. It was the first reported domestically acquired human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Canada since the virus first emerged in humans in 1997.

To minimize the risk of exposure to avian influenza, people should:

• Avoid direct contact with ill or dead wild birds or animals. If handling ill or dead birds is necessary, wear gloves and place the bird in two sealed plastic bags. Avoid contact with any body fluids and feces. Afterwards, wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use hand sanitizer. Be sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect any tools (e.g., shovel) used in disposing of dead birds with hot, soapy water and then use a household disinfectant.
• Report sick or dead wildlife to the CWHC at 1-800-567-2033.
• Follow safe cooking guidelines when preparing poultry/eggs. Always cook poultry to an internal temperature of 74°C to ensure safety from potential pathogens.
• Not handle or eat animals that appear sick or have died from unknown causes.
• Keep pets away from sick or dead birds or wildlife and keep dogs leashed when outside to prevent them from coming into contact with wild birds.
• Monitor domestic birds for signs of illness and follow Canadian Government recommendations.

Avian Influenza can be a significant burden to poultry farms, as the disease can pass to poultry from wild birds. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reminds people to contact them if they suspect their birds, such as chickens, have avian influenza. CFIA reminds all flock owners that anyone with birds must practice enhanced biosecurity procedures.

To date, there is no evidence to suggest that fully cooked game meat, organs, or eggs are a source of avian influenza infection for people.

https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/About-Us/News-Releases/ArtMID/2193/ArticleID/150/GBPH-reminds-residents-to-avoid-handling-wild-birds-take-steps-to-protect-against-avian-flu

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Regional Municipality of Peel
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Municipality_of_Peel
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Suspected cases of avian influenza detected in Peel Region

BRAMPTON, ON (March 7, 2025) – Peel Public Health suspects cases of avian influenza in wild birds in Peel following the discovery of a large number of dead birds in the region recently. The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative is currently testing the birds to determine the cause of death.

Avian influenza primarily infects wild birds but can be transmitted to poultry and other mammals. Rarely, avian influenza may also spread to people. The risk of bird-to-human transmission is low. There have been no human cases of avian influenza in Peel or Ontario.

If you find sick or dead wild birds, avoid handling them if possible, and contact your local municipal animal control department or the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.

To limit the spread of avian influenza and protect the health and safety of residents and pets, Peel Public Health has the following advice:

• If handling dead birds or animals is necessary, wear gloves, place the dead bird or animal in a doubled plastic bag and tie it closed. Then, wash your hands thoroughly. They can be placed, double-bagged, in the garbage for disposal.
• Consider removing backyard bird feeders and bird baths. If they cannot be fully removed, place as far away from family pets as possible and clean with 10 per cent bleach at least once every two weeks.
• Keep family pets away from birds and fecal matter.
• Keep cats indoors and dogs on leash to limit the potential for an encounter with an infected bird.
• Do not feed family pets raw meat from game birds or poultry.
• Do not feed or otherwise interact with wild birds.
• Pet birds, if not normally kept indoors, should be restricted to the indoors.
• Residents who raise backyard chickens, own pet birds or maintain other flocks, should monitor them for signs of avian influenza and follow preventive actions recommended by the Province and Government of Canada.
• Do not attempt to retrieve or help birds from seemingly frozen bodies of water as ice and water conditions are unsafe.
• If you become ill with influenza (flu) symptoms (including fever, cough, difficulty breathing, muscle aches, headache and/or red watery eyes) within 10 days of handling wild birds or other wildlife, see your healthcare provider. Inform your healthcare provider that you have been in contact with wildlife.

The risk of avian influenza spreading to humans is extremely rare. There are no indicators of increasing risk to the general public at this time. Additional details will be provided as they become available. More information on avian influenza can be found on the Ministry of Health's website.

While the risk of humans contracting avian influenza is low, Peel Public Health urges residents to avoid handling sick or dead birds in order to limit any potential spread of avian influenza and to protect themselves, any pets and the community.

Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health, Peel Public Health

https://peelregion.ca/press-releases...-peel-region-0