Commonground
Senior Moderator
[emphasis is mine]
“The information goes into a database,” says Haman. “By reporting wildlife mortality events or even single cases, that’s really useful information for us.”
“How it evolves in wildlife is going to impact whether or not it’s going to spill over into humans,” says Haman. “I think that’s the big part we’re going to be missing with not doing surveillance for it.”
Haman says unlike in domestic poultry—where infected flocks would be euthanized to prevent continued spread and mutations—HPAI is now being maintained in wildlife populations.
“It’s just kind of always here,” she says. “I think people should be prepared for it being on our landscape for the foreseeable future.”
Speten advises that despite the unsettling progression of the disease, people shouldn’t be fearful of HPAI as a human health risk. However, common precautions—like not handling dead wildlife—should be taken.
She, too, urges residents to report wildlife fatalities.
ODFW dead bird reporting hotline: 866-968-2600 (10)
WDFW has an online link for reporting sick, injured or dead wildlife.
https://www.salemreporter.com/2025/...to-pacific-northwest-wild-mammal-populations/
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2025
“The information goes into a database,” says Haman. “By reporting wildlife mortality events or even single cases, that’s really useful information for us.”
“How it evolves in wildlife is going to impact whether or not it’s going to spill over into humans,” says Haman. “I think that’s the big part we’re going to be missing with not doing surveillance for it.”
Haman says unlike in domestic poultry—where infected flocks would be euthanized to prevent continued spread and mutations—HPAI is now being maintained in wildlife populations.
“It’s just kind of always here,” she says. “I think people should be prepared for it being on our landscape for the foreseeable future.”
Speten advises that despite the unsettling progression of the disease, people shouldn’t be fearful of HPAI as a human health risk. However, common precautions—like not handling dead wildlife—should be taken.
She, too, urges residents to report wildlife fatalities.
ODFW dead bird reporting hotline: 866-968-2600 (10)
WDFW has an online link for reporting sick, injured or dead wildlife.
https://www.salemreporter.com/2025/...to-pacific-northwest-wild-mammal-populations/