DNR: Dead geese on Shiawassee River likely died of bird flu

The virus is widespread in North America and Michigan presently, said Mitch Marcus, wildlife health supervisor for Michigan DNR’s Wildlife Division.

“Since early December, the department has been getting an uptick in reports of sick or dead birds,” Marcus said.

On Thursday, the city of Owosso posted a warning to residents on its Facebook page, and urging community members to not feed birds along the Shiawassee River.

“The (DNR) has issued a warning to Michigan residents regarding (HPAI),” the statement says. “The DNR has notified city of Owosso officials of suspected HPAI in [Canada] Geese on the Shiawassee River. To protect waterfowl on the Shiawassee River, residents need to immediately STOP FEEDING waterfowl along the river. This causes them to group together and causes the disease to spread more rapidly.”

Kolton Beckman, an Owosso waterfowl hunter and guide, told The Argus-Press that the bird flu issue is widespread and that the entire Shiawassee River has been hit hard.

“I’ve counted hundreds of dead geese from Fenton up through Chesaning,” he said. “This is a country-wide problem.”

Beckman, who delivered some of the dead geese to the DNR, said that bird flu is always a danger among waterfowl, but that the frequency of the disease, which has been spreading since last fall, is the most serious than he’s seen.

On Thursday, multiple dead geese could be seen flowing north on the Shiawassee River in and north of Owosso. Photographs on social media have shown groupings of Geese dead on the ice covering the river.

“They go up on the ice, and that’s where they die, but the ice is thawing and that’s why they’re (displaced),” said Beckman.

The discovery of dead geese alone can cause an anxious stir within the community, Marcus said.

“When people see dead animals, it’s unsettling,” he said. “Having people concerned makes total sense.”

DNR staff reported dozens of sick or dead [Canada] geese from the Owosso-area event, Marcus said.

“Staff were able to collect fresh carcasses and they’ve been delivered here to the veterinary diagnostic lab at (Michigan State University), and we’ll perform diagnostic testing on those birds to determine cause of death,” Marcus explained. “Waterfowl are social creatures and it’s not uncommon to find large flocks of duck and geese species at this particular time of year.”

Wild birds can be infected with HPAI and show no signs of illness, although signs of infection are usually visible. Birds often act strange, such as walking and swimming in circles, flailing their heads around and falling over repeatedly, the city of Owosso FB post states.

“Birds usually succumb to the disease in two or three days after symptoms start,” the posts says, attributing the information to the DNR.

The birds can spread the disease while migrating and creating the potential to expose domestic poultry to the virus. The threat of this influenza affecting humans is not an urgent concern, Marcus said.

“The CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, considers High Path Avian Influenza risk to humans to be low,” Marcus said. “Anyone concerned about the virus should speak to their doctor.”

The CDC website, cdc.gov, published 67 reported human cases since 2024, with two of those cases in Michigan. The CDC website states that “infected birds can shed avian influenza viruses in their saliva, nasal secretions and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with the virus as it is shed by infected birds. They also can become infected through contact with surfaces that are contaminated with virus from infected birds.”

According to the United States Department of Agriculture website, Bird flu is caused by Influenza Type A virus. Avian-origin influenza viruses are broadly categorized based on a combination of two groups of proteins on the surface of the influenza.

Bird flu viruses are classified as either “low pathogenic” or “highly pathogenic” based on their genetic features and the severity of the disease they cause in poultry. Most viruses are of low pathogenicity, meaning they cause no signs or only minor clinical signs of infection in poultry.

The DNR recommends that people not approach or handle dead or sick wildlife, Marcus said.

“If they find the need to (handle them), they should take some general biosecurity precautions and wear (personal protective equipment) such as gloves, a surgical mask and some sort of hoodwear that can be disinfected,” Marcus suggested. “If gloves are not of the disposable type, one that can be discarded, then I would suggest a rubber-type glove that can be disinfected.”

The town of Williamston, located about 10 miles south of Shiawassee County in Ingham County, is facing similar issues with bird flu. The Lansing State Journal reported Wednesday that about a dozen dead geese near a pond are suspected to have been infected with HPAI.