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Entry 976Filed under Breeding

Avian Flu in Pennsylvania: What the 2025–26 Bird Deaths Mean

The Pennsylvania Game Commission estimated 2,000 wild-bird carcasses at one Northampton County quarry during winter 2025–26. Here’s what that figure means, how to check current detections, and how to respond safely.
4-minute read By Animalso Team
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Pennsylvania saw a major bird-flu event in winter 2025–26: the Pennsylvania Game Commission estimated that about 2,000 wild-bird carcasses, predominantly snow geese, were removed from a Northampton County quarry during December and January. That is a site-specific estimate, not a statewide death toll. Available official sources do not establish that Pennsylvania currently leads the country by cumulative bird deaths or recent detections.

How many birds has bird flu killed in Pennsylvania?

The most prominent recent Pennsylvania figure is an estimate from the Pennsylvania Game Commission: about 2,000 wild-bird carcasses were removed from one Northampton County quarry during December 2025 and January 2026, predominantly snow geese. The Commission reported the event on February 23, 2026. Pennsylvania Game Commission update.

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That estimate describes one location and a two-month period. It is not a count of all birds that died in Pennsylvania, nor does it establish how many died specifically from avian flu. Federal tracker records also should not automatically be described as deaths: they are detections based on testing and may cover different kinds of samples or classifications.

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Is Pennsylvania the epicenter of bird flu?

“Epicenter” depends on what is being counted and when. The Northampton County event was substantial, but the official sources available do not establish Pennsylvania as the current national leader in cumulative bird deaths, recent detections, or another single measure. The Pennsylvania Game Commission says highly pathogenic avian influenza strains have been present in the state’s wild birds since early 2022.

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For a current comparison, use USDA APHIS’s wild-bird surveillance dashboard and commercial and backyard flock dashboard. Keep these distinctions in mind:

  • Time period: A recent-30-day view answers a different question from detections recorded since the U.S. outbreak began in January 2022.
  • Population: Wild-bird records are not the same as commercial or backyard poultry flock detections, livestock detections, or mammal detections.
  • Measure: A detection, affected premises, estimated carcasses, and confirmed deaths are not interchangeable totals.
  • Date: APHIS uses the date of confirmatory testing as the displayed detection date; the bird may have been found or sampled earlier. Dashboard figures can change as samples are processed.

APHIS describes wild-bird surveillance as an early-warning system and notes that migrating wild birds can carry infection to new areas. Detections tend to increase in fall and spring, in line with migration. For the best current snapshot, consult the recent-30-day views and note the dashboard’s update date and the date you checked it. APHIS overview of HPAI.

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Is bird flu dangerous to people?

CDC’s current assessment is that the risk to the general public in the United States is low, while monitoring continues. As of October 4, 2026, CDC reported 71 U.S. human A(H5) cases since February 2024: seven detected through national flu surveillance and 64 through monitoring of people exposed to infected animals. This is a human-case count, not a Pennsylvania bird count, and low public risk does not mean animal exposure carries no risk. CDC avian influenza situation summary.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Health says people can become infected through contact with sick or dead animals, their secretions, or contaminated objects. Raw milk from sick cows is another possible source. It recommends washing hands before and after animal contact, wearing gloves when cleaning feeders, coops, or pens, using separate shoes for coop or barn work, and avoiding raw milk and raw-milk products. Pasteurized dairy products are safe, according to the department. Pennsylvania Department of Health guidance.

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What should I do if I find a sick or dead bird?

Do not touch or move a sick or dead wild bird. Report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453). Reports help wildlife staff assess the situation and determine whether recovery or diagnostic testing is appropriate. If you have had contact with a sick or dead bird and feel ill, contact your clinician or the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 877-724-3258. Pennsylvania Game Commission reporting guidance.

If the sick birds are domestic poultry, use the separate reporting channel: contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services at 717-772-2852, option 1, available 24/7. The wild-bird reporting line is for wildlife; the agriculture number is for suspected poultry cases. The department also recommends daily biosecurity and keeping premise registration current so officials can locate and notify flock owners near an outbreak. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture guidance.

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Can I keep using my bird feeder?

The Game Commission says there is no prohibition on feeding birds during the outbreak and that avian influenza typically does not affect species that frequent feeders. Keep feeders and baths clean, and remove spilled seed. Its cleaning guidance is to empty feeders and baths every couple of weeks, wash with soapy water, rinse, then disinfect with a 10% household bleach solution. Allow a 10-minute contact time before rinsing or letting the item air dry. Game Commission feeder-cleaning guidance.

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If several sick or dead birds appear over a short period, temporarily take down feeders and empty baths to avoid worsening a possible outbreak. Do not handle sick or dead wildlife to clean or remove it; report it to the Game Commission.

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